By: Patrick McGreevy
LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-lawmakers-governor-ban-plastic-bags-20140828-story.html
On Friday August 29, the
Senate provided legislative approval to stop the usage of plastic bags in
supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies. The government is trying to
make an effort to stop littering on streets. This measure is allowing stores to
charge customers 10 cents for a paper bag or reusable bag other than the single
plastic bag being used already. California is the first state senate to
ban the usage of free plastic bags, although the bags are also banned in
Hawaii. Senator Alex Padilla says, "We have seen a groundswell of action
in this direction at the local level, but this is a statewide problem meriting
a statewide solution" (McGreevy, 1). On July 1, 2015 the ban will take
action in pharmacies and grocery store. The ban will take place in liquor
stores and other convenience stores. Some Republicans are opposing this ban.
For example, Ted Gaines of Rocklin says to his colleagues, "I'm quite
frankly offended by having the state dictate what we need and don’t need in our
lives" (McGreevy, 1). Some say that the plastic bags used today are not
all wasted. The legislation is going to provide $2 million in
competitive loans to the bag-makers so they can produce reusable bags, instead
of plastic bags.
This current event article will become important
when the ban takes place in July of 2015. People will need to take their own
reusable bags to grocery stores, in order to avoid paying an extra 10 cents for
plastic bags. "More than 14 billion single-use plastic bags are
distributed by retailers each year and 88% of plastic bags are not recycled,
according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In California,
only 3% are recycled," according to CalRecycle, (McGreevy,1). Banning the
usage of plastic bags will help our ecosystems and decrease the amount of
litter on the streets.
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