Los Angeles adopts proposal to ban plastic bags

Antara , Los Angeles | Wed, 07/02/2008 3:02 PM | Environment

A Los Angeles City Council committee on Tuesday adopted a proposal to ban plastic bags in supermarkets.

The proposal also bans foam food containers in city buildings, the Energy and Environment Committee (EEC) said.

Under the proposal, the use of plastic bags will be banned at all supermarkets and retail stores in Los Angeles beginning Jan. 1, 2012 where a bag fee has not yet been established, said the committee.

Consumers in the city of Los Angeles use 2.3 billion plastic bags a year. For the average retailer, plastic bags cost 2 to 5 US cents, compared to biodegradable plastic bags that can cost 8 cents to 17 cents.

The negative consequences of plastic bags and polystyrene containers includes increased waste to landfills, increased litter and community blight, the associated clean-up costs and the impact on our environment, especially marine ecosystems, said Neil Guglielmo from the Bureau of Sanitation.

The city of Los Angeles spends more than US$20,000 a year on polystyrene products, Guglielmo said.(**)

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