L.A. County supes ban plastic bags

This only applies to unincorporated portions of the county, but the 3-1 vote (Mike Antonovich dissenting) is an interesting development in the ongoing effort throughout the state to do away with the bags, despite big-time industry lobbying (a statewide ban was narrowly defeated earlier this year). Under the county ordinance, which still has to come back for a final vote, grocery stores and other retail outlets won't be able to use plastic bags. The ban begins July 1 at some stores and will be expanded to all stores on Jan. 1, 2012. Stores will still be allowed to offer customers recyclable paper bags, but there will be a 10 cent charge per bag. (City News) All this assumes that legal challenges will be unsuccessful.