LOS ANGELES – Plastic grocery bags will be banned in California, with voters narrowly validating the Legislature’s previously approved prohibition.
The approval of Proposition 67 bars grocery stores and other selected retail outlets from handing out single-use plastic bags, but allows them to sell recycled paper bags and reusable bags for a minimum of 10 cents.
The state Legislature approved the ban and the governor signed it into law in 2014, but a referendum forced the issue onto the ballot.
Opponents of the ban said it amounts to a tax increase by charging shoppers 10 cents for a bag, amounting to about $300 million a year that goes back into the pockets of grocers. Proponents, however, said the referendum was mounted by out-of-state plastic-bag manufacturers looking to protect their profits.
Many California cities and counties, including Los Angeles, have adopted plastic bag bans that are already being enforced.
Meanwhile, voters on Tuesday defeated Proposition 65, which would have legislated the use of money raised by the statewide ban. Passage of the initiative would have resulted in the several tens of millions of dollars annually being transferred to a special fund administered by the Wildlife Conservation Board for certain environmental and natural resources purposes, according to an analysis conducted by the Legislative Analyst’s Office and Department of Finance.
Opponents of Prop 65 contended that the bag-manufacturing companies were behind the initiative, which they claim was created for the sole purpose of confusing voters while doing little to help the environment.
Visit https://www.jutebag.co.uk for eco-friendly bags.
Get election results on all State Ballot Measures at: http://vote.sos.ca.gov/returns/ballot-measures/.
diplorable hombre says
I love the ban on the plastic bags, because now I can bring in my back pack into the store with me. The stores can no longer hold your bag at the counter because its my shopping bag, when somethings accidently fall into my bag the stores can only say to me did I pay for that? And I say yes, look at my receipt, then when its not on recept, I say WHOOPS i must have forgot to give the item to cashier. Then I pay for it and go home. Here is also what I do, I bring in a stinky trash bag or a backpack with maybe a stinky tuna sandwich inside, most stores simply do nothing because the stink makes people gag. I don’t know why I have EBT for, I get all my food free anyway., but I dont steal……….
Dennis A Rivas says
Ya have you seen how littered our deserts are with plastic bags? Especially near any Walmart I’m so glad we have to pay 10 cents a bag lol first world problems I guess
10dog says
Can we have a recount, too close to believe.
Rego says
Just get a rectangular box that drops into their POS
carts and Bingo problem solved and it will make your job of unloading at Home even easier. Wala you f…..’ political henchman.
corkwood says
oh well guess I’ll just bring my own
Jus sayin' says
*CRUMBLE, for all you grammar-Nazi’s out there…
Jus sayin' says
It’s been suggested, and quite useful to use/buy reusable bags, BUT then in time these bags CUMBLE. I’d rather use or better better useful bags!