Los Angeles Bans Plastic Bags, Limits Styrofoam
Following the lead of our progressive neighbors to the north, San Francisco, the City of Los Angeles has decided to ban plastic bags by 2010. A bit of a disclaimer, though - the ban will be implemented only if the State does not impose a 25 cent fee for each bag requested by a customer. This bill (AB 2058) is coming up for a vote in August. Still, it’s a step in the right direction, putting pressure on lawmakers to reduce the 2.3 billion bags used by consumers in Los Angeles.
The announcement comes after Los Angeles County supervisors caused disappointment in January when they abandoned a threat to ban the bags, choosing instead a voluntary program where stores were to “encourage” customers to bring reusable bags. In other words, the status quo.
The City Council also voted to ban Styrofoam at all city-owned facilities, including LAX, by 2009. Though Los Angeles collects Styrofoam for recycling, there isn’t really a market for it - by the time it is melted down, very little material is left. Last I heard, Styrofoam was being stored until another solution could be found…like a ban! Ta da!
Both plastic bags and Styrofoam are a major environmental hazard in Los Angeles. If you’ve ever been to the beach after a rain, you know what I mean - the fact that the entire region’s storm system drains into the Santa Monica and San Pedro Bays, untreated, is hard to miss. Every cigarette butt, plastic bag, and Styrofoam cup (now in a bajillion teeny tiny pieces) that hit the streats in the Southland is now on the beach and in the water. The resulting contamination and threat to marine life is obvious. So, ban aside, you still have the personal choice not to accept these items - exercise it!
Photo credit: Paul Keller at Flikr under a Creative Commons license
This is a nice move I suppose, but I would prefer for us, as consumers, to voice a stronger demand for businesses to do this… apart from government intervention. We need to support companies that provide us our desired utility and benefit the environment. For example, I came across a website http://www.simplestop.net that stops your postal junk mail and benefits the environment.
Definately a step in the right direction. I hope other areas will follow suit.
LA? THE LA. Los Angeles, California? Hot damn. I guess there s hope for all of us.
A good move by L.A. It looks like the city is joining the growing list of municipalities leading the way in the environmental movement. L.A. has a ways to go before it becomes another Portland, SF, Seattle or Honolulu, but this is a definite step in the right direction.
you are all idiots. do you think paper bags are any environmentally friendlier than plastic bags? ever seen a paper mill and the impact on the water and air quality LA has such qreat air quality that you need to really worry about plastic bags - right?
to ‘Dock’; thanks for the postive commentary. Always good to have constructive intelligent dialog to inspire us.
But just to be clear, noyone here is recommending paper bags — the goal is to move away from our current disposable, highly consumption-oriented society. The focus is to have people carry their OWN bags, not take away plastic OR paper.
Keep in mind…there were NO single use plastic bags in the market before 1977, seems we somehow did fine without them. FWIW, paper bags were invented in the 1850s and the form of the square bottom/pleated sides that became ubiquitous was introduced in the 1890s. So, for most of recorded human history we never even used these items.
Is our convenience really that paramount when we consider the cradle to grave impacts and costs of single-use materials?
wish more places would do the same…
This is really exciting news. I am anxious to see if it actually happens.
Hope the rest of the nation follows suit without the need for expensive legislation. Let’s put some pressure on the retail industry! I’ve got my re-usable canvas shopping bags, got yours?
Well, goodbye, Pamela Anderson.