CHANGE: Calabasas, unincorporated LA County areas will instead sell paper.
Supermarkets and government officials have been working for months to ensure that shoppers will be prepared for the change. They've been posting reminders at stores, and selling discounted reusable bags and giving away thousands more, with an eye toward reducing litter and waste. (David Paul Morris/Getty Images)
The "paper or plastic" question will become moot on Friday at stores in Calabasas and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, where a ban on single-use plastic bags is set to take effect.
Supermarkets and government officials have been working for months to ensure that shoppers will be prepared for the change. They've been posting reminders at stores, and selling discounted reusable bags and giving away thousands more, with an eye toward reducing litter and waste.
"We're trying to do what's right for the environment," said Roxane Marquez, a spokeswoman for county Supervisor Gloria Molina.
The ordinance approved in November by the Board of Supervisors prohibits supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies from giving away flimsy plastic bags, and also requires stores to charge customers 10 cents for each paper bag they use.
Supervisor Michael Antonovich was the only board member to vote against the ordinance. He did not return a phone call, but in a previous statement raised concerns about overburdening consumers and businesses.
"In place of draconian fees and regulations, educating our residents on the harm of illegally disposing their plastic bags can be effective in ensuring that these bags don't end up on our beaches, and in our rivers, parks and landfills," Antonovich
said.The ban that starts Friday affects 71 stores - those that make more than $2 million annually and are bigger than 10,000 square feet. Smaller stores have until Jan. 1 to make the change.
County residents use an estimated 6 billion plastic bags a year, or 1,600 bags per household, according to a report commissioned by the supervisors. And cleaning up litter caused by the bags costs taxpayers an estimated $18 million annually.
Albertsons posted signs about a month ago at its four stores in the unincorporated communities, reminding shoppers about the pending change. It's been giving away reusable bags to customers who spent at least $30, and will continue to do so through July 7, said Rick Cantrall, Albertsons' director of environmental stewardship.
The ban does not apply to the city of Los Angeles and other incorporated areas, although several municipalities have passed their own plastic-bag ban.
Those include Calabasas, where the ban will take effect the same day as the county in order to avoid confusion.
"We're pushing hard to convince other cities to adopt a ban," said Alex Farassati, Calabasas' environmental services supervisor. "We've had calls from other cities asking about what we're doing, including the city of Los Angeles. Burbank recently inquired. The movement is growing."
Calabasas resident Sue Gould, 47, has already made the switch to reusable bags. She occasionally asks for paper, however, to fill a need around the house and was at the Ralphs in the Calabasas Commons on Wednesday stocking up before the 10-cent charge kicks in.
"I don't have a problem with the ban," she said. "It's going to take a while before it's second nature for some people, though."
Source: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_18380312?source=rss
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