The new Los Angeles county ordinance banning plastic store carryout bags and imposing a 10 cent charge on paper ones starts July 1.
The ban affects only unincorporated county areas such as Altadena (altho’ some cities, like Santa Monica, have imposed their own ban). The phase that begins July 1 will affect retail stores with at least $2 million gross sales, stores of at least 10,000 square feet of retail space with a pharmacy, or any store that sells a limited line of goods such as milk, bread, soda, and snacks, including liquor stores. All stores will be expected to comply by Jan. 1, 2012.
The reason behind the ban? The county estimates that, in 2007, there were 1,600 plastic carryout bags used per year per household countywide. The ordinance is an attempt to reduce that number by half, which it also estimates will reduce litter cleanup costs by $4 million.
The downside, of course, is that it may send customers to Pasadena to avoid the bag charge.
Pictured: the ban on plastic shopping bags is an attempt to reduce litter, which includes bags that make it to the ocean and endanger sea life.
The ban affects only unincorporated county areas such as Altadena (altho’ some cities, like Santa Monica, have imposed their own ban). The phase that begins July 1 will affect retail stores with at least $2 million gross sales, stores of at least 10,000 square feet of retail space with a pharmacy, or any store that sells a limited line of goods such as milk, bread, soda, and snacks, including liquor stores. All stores will be expected to comply by Jan. 1, 2012.
The reason behind the ban? The county estimates that, in 2007, there were 1,600 plastic carryout bags used per year per household countywide. The ordinance is an attempt to reduce that number by half, which it also estimates will reduce litter cleanup costs by $4 million.
The downside, of course, is that it may send customers to Pasadena to avoid the bag charge.