Governor signs statewide plastic bag ban
California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation imposing the nation’s first statewide ban on single-use plastic bags.
SB270 was one of the last major bills pending Tuesday, the deadline for the governor to sign or veto hundreds of bills.
Brown signed the bill by Democratic state Sen. Alex Padilla of Los Angeles.
Plastic bags will be phased out of large grocery stores starting next year and convenience stores and pharmacies in 2016. The legislation is meant to encourage consumers to bring their own bags and as a way to reduce litter.
The bill preserves more than 100 local plastic bag bans, including in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Grocers support the ban because it sets a statewide standard and allows them to charge consumers a 10 cent fee for using paper bags.
Plastic and paper bag manufacturers opposed to the legislation say it will result in lost manufacturing jobs in California.
The legislation will prohibit large grocery stores from carrying single-use bags starting in July 2015, expanding to smaller stores the year after. It also allows businesses to charge 10-cent fees for customers using paper bags.
Brown said during a gubernatorial debate earlier this month that he would “probably” sign SB270 because of the patchwork of local regulations regarding plastic bags.
