The anti plastic bag and styrofoam sentiment’s rising — but all the different state, county, and city-level initiatives can get super confusing. Here’s the skinny on what’s happening:
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State of California

Current regulation: Nothing as of yet. A bill to impose a 25 cent per-bag fee died late 2008.

AB 2058, if passed, would’ve stipulated that if voluntary measures to decrease plastic bag use by 70% by July 1, 2012, a 25 cents per bag fee would kick in. Unfortunately, that bill died late 2008.

[updated 10/3/08]
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LA County

Current regulation: Voluntary efforts to reduce plastic bag use.

In January 2008, the LA County Board of Supervisors passed legislation asking for VOLUNTARY reductions in plastic bag use. Stores bigger than 10,000 square feet that use plastic bags a lot were told to voluntarily reduce plastic bag use by 30% by 2010, then 65% by 2013. If these reduction goals aren’t met, an automatic plastic bag ban kicks in — July 2010 at the earliest.

That watered-down legislation had local enviro-org Heal the Bay fuming — but apparently the plastic industry peeps that watered it down still think it’s too tough. The plastic bag industry, aka the Save the Plastic Bag Coalition, filed a lawsuit earlier this month challenging this legislation.

“Where do these guys come from?” asks Heal the Bay’s Spouting Off blog. Kirsten James of Heal the Bay said she found it “interesting” that the plastic industry’s suing over something they agreed to back when the legislation was being hashed out. “The main threat is that it’s just going to tie things up,” Kirstin said. “It’s really unfortunate.”
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City of Los Angeles

Current regulation: A styrofoam ban’s going into effect at city agencies and events between now and 2010. A plastic bag ban could kick in July 2010 IF state efforts come to naught.

If — and only if — Calif’s AB 2058 (see above) doesn’t pass AND no other state anti-plastic-bag efforts pass before July 2010, LA will ban plastic carryout bags in supermarkets and stores by July 2010. Kirsten James of Heal the Bay said she hopes this “if not - then” plan in LA will show the plastic industry the benefits of getting behind a state-wide plan.

The LA City Council also voted this week to require city agencies to stop purchasing styrofoam — aka polystyrene — food containers starting next year. According to , this anti-styrofoam directive will be implemented in phases. Some city departments can immediately stop purchasing styrofoam, while other places — including LAX — would need to wait for existing contracts with vendors to run out before implementing the no styrofoam policy.

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City of Santa Monica

Current Regulation: Styrofoam ban went into effect February 2008. Anti-bag legislation being drafted.

The styrofoam ban’s been implemented quite well — at least in all the eateries I frequent — but we’re still waiting for action on the bag issue.

Back in February 2008, the Santa Monica City Council voted to draft an ordinance banning one-use plastic and biodegradable plastic-like bags in the city. However, this ordinance now won’t come before the City Council until after the summer break, according to both SM City Councilmember Kevin McKeown and Kirsten of Heal the Bay.

Why the delay? This ordinance is very wide reaching, making the plastic bag ban apply to all stores, regardless of size, as well as implementing a fee on paper bags. According to McKeown: “If we iron out the paper bag issue, it will probably involve a charge in the 15 to 20 cent range. That fee might be split between the store (to cover the increased cost compared to plastic) and the City (to pay for the educational component of the program, urging people to bring their own bags).”

Meanwhile, many local businesses have already nixed plastic bags in preparation for the ordinance-to-come.

City of Malibu

Current Regulation: Plastic bag ban starts to go into effect October 2008.

In May 2008, the Malibu City Council voted to banish single-use plastic bags AND plastic-like compostable bags at all retail stores big and small. Businesses ranging from grocery stores to small boutiques will have to de-plastic-bag of face fines up to $1000; the deadline is 6 months or 1 year, depending on the size and type of store.

City of Manhattan Beach

Current Regulation: Plastic bag ban starts to go into effect January 2009 - July 2009.

[Update, 8/19/08] Manhattan Beach voted on July 1, 2008 to ban both plastic and bioplastic bags, effective within 6 months for large stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and city facilities and in a year for all remaining vendors and retailers. The plastic industry group — self-dubbed the “Save the Plastic Bag Coalition” — has now sued Manhattan Beach, claiming that the city violated the California Environmental Quality Act by not fully analyzing the environmental effects of the ban.

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Yep, we’ve got a crazy patchwork of anti disposable plastic laws — which is why Heal the Bay’s feeling more optimistic about the statewide plastic bag tax. “The grocers’ association is sort of realizing that a statewide policy might be better,” said Kirsten of Heal the Bay — mainly because dealing with all the individual city-level policies is a “logistical nightmare.”

In the meantime, many individual companies are coming up with their own de-plasticking rules. Whole Foods already banned plastic bags on Earth Day this year, and Ikea plans to nix all plastic bags by Oct. 2008.

Photo by Envirowoman

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