China bans plastic bags. Will LA catch up?

China's banned the plastic bag, putting into eco-practice what LA politicians say is very difficult to do. Starting June 1, supermarkets and shops in China will be forbidden from giving out plastic bags, reports Reuters. This ban will save 37 million barrels of oil, reports thedailygreen.

Cali cities such as San Francisco have already banned the plastic bag from big stores. So have a number of African nations, including Rwanda and Eritrea.

Is LA falling behind the eco-curve? Being a coastal city, LA has a lot to lose from this plastic bag habit of ours, as Heal the Bay often points out. After all, beachgoers don't exactly like to float alongside Ralphs and Vons bags. Yesterday, Jessica Belsky of Heal the Bay wrote me about how Heal the Bay is working to enact a similar ban in LA County:

On the heels of our very successful inaugural Day Without a Bag event, we will be planning to take action on the 22nd  of THIS month around the LA County Supervisors scheduled vote on the plastic bag ban for LA County.

More to come on this initiative soon. For now, bring your own bag! You can also add your name to a petition to support a plastic bag ban in LA county here.

Image courtesy of Heal the Bay

Comments

[phil]

There is an error in your report. China only banned ultra thin bags. They are planning to transition to thicker bags that are the same as those here in LA. There will be a minimal fee per bag. Basically they will use more oil and still have bags out there.

[Vectorpedia (Rick)]

L.A. should start the plastic bag ban ASAP.......more and more cities are doing the right thing.......L.A. should be eco-correct.