Category: plastic bags

plastic bags, Quick mends

Quick Mends: State senate ponders plastic bag ban
The next FOLAR river cleanup is slated for Saturday, May 18.(Barbara Burns)
The next FOLAR river cleanup is slated for Saturday, May 18.(Barbara Burns)

UPDATE The new law goes into effect for large grocery chains and pharmacies beginning July 1, 2015. It will extend to convenience stores and liquor stores July 1, 2016.

Heartening news out of Sacramento, as the California Grocers Assn. announced support of a bill to nix single-use plastic bags in most grocery stores and pharmacies by 2015.

An initial hearing on  SB 405, penned by state senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee is set for tomorrow, the Los Angeles Times reports.

See you on the river, Jim Burns

MAY 30, 2013, UPDATE: “Senate Bill 405 failed to top the 21-vote threshold needed for passage, with senators voting in favor of the measure 18-17. Four senators did not cast votes. The bill will be allowed to be reconsidered, meaning it could be back before a Senate committee or the Senate floor.” — Waste & Recycling News

plastic bags

Quick mends: Los Angeles bans plastic bags
Soon plastic bags will be verboten in Los Angeles, which joins unincorporated areas in L.A. in the ban. (Barbara Burns)

Well, folks, today Los Angeles became the largest city in the country to approve a ban on plastic bags at supermarkets. Read the whole story here. Now comes a four-month environmental review, followed by the actual ordinance. Large supermarkets will then have six months and smaller markets four to phase the bags out, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The paper quoted Councilman Ed Reyes, who has focused on efforts to revitalize the Los Angeles River:

“Let’s get the message to Sacramento that it’s time to go statewide,”

See you on the river, Jim Burns