Putting plastic on notice
Plastic bags at local supermarkets could soon be obsolete in unincorporated areas of the county under a proposal being studied by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Officials are concerned about the estimated six billion plastic grocery bags sold in the county, of which only 1 percent are recycled. By enacting a ban similar to one in San Francisco, officials are hoping plastic bags go the way of pull-tab soda cans.
For years, environmentalists have pointed to the devastating impact plastic has on marine life, particularly sea turtles, which confuse the bags for jelly fish and eat them, causing many to suffer from intestinal failure and die.
“What I can tell you right now is plastic bags are a major problem in the aquatic environment,” said Mark Gold, executive director of Heal the Bay, an environmental watchdog that stages beach clean-ups.
“If you look at any local urban stream — the L.A. River, Compton Creek — especially after a rain, it looks like the trees are growing plastic bags,” Gold added. “There are literally thousands and thousands of plastic bags that rest in our creeks, rivers and streams, making their way in the marine environment.”
Plastic pollution is starting to grab the attention of policy makers both locally and at the state level. Last month, San Francisco became the first city in the nation to ban grocery bags made from petroleum-based plastic in favor of biodegradable brands.
In February, the California Ocean Protection Council called for an aggressive crackdown on plastic fast-food containers, a ban of those containing toxic chemicals and a program to reimburse police for vigorous enforcement of littering laws.
A state law authored by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D- Van Nuys, requires major supermarkets and pharmacies to accept plastic bags for recycling starting July 1.
And back in August 2006, the Santa Monica City Council passed a ban on Styrofoam and other non-recyclable plastics used to store take-out food. The ban, which targets Styrofoam cups, plates and clam-shell take-out containers, applies to all public, private, and non-profit entities which use those products.
While banning Styrofoam will not eliminate litter from the beaches, council members said it is an important first step in protecting the Santa Monica Bay and the city’s beaches, which are constantly inundated with Styrofoam waste flowing in from storm drains, or is scattered by birds picking through trash cans that have no lids to keep garbage from being tossed around.
When it was approved, representatives from the grocery industry urged the council to reconsider, citing an increase in costs and a potential drop-off in the recycling of plastics. A move to compostable bags, they say, could jeopardize the state’s grocery bag recycling program.
Peter Larkin, president of the California Grocers Association, said the county study was premature given that the state’s plastic bag recycling program has not gone into effect.
“Grocery retailers look forward to working with the county on increasing recycling efforts, and in finding new ways for retailers and consumers to reuse, reduce and recycle,” Larkin said.
Many CGA members already offer at-store plastic bag recycling, Larkin added, including several in Santa Monica, such as Ralphs and Albertsons, which pay customers anywhere from 5 cents to 3 cents for each plastic bag they bring in.
Co-Opportunity, a smaller market run by shoppers, or members, uses bags made from recycled plastics and sells cloth bags to customers in the hopes they use those instead of paper or plastic.
“We definitely support recycling programs throughout the city and if a ban means not carrying plastic bags that are going to end up on our beaches, we support that,” said Angelique Dolan, marketing manager for Co-Opportunity.
City Hall did consider enacting a ban on plastic bags, however, backed off at the advice of the city attorney because of state law. Now that San Francisco and other cities are moving forward, the issue could come back to the Council for further consideration.
“We’re working on it,” Gold said.“We need to move away from this one-use culture where we are getting a bag to use for five minutes between putting our groceries into the car and unloading them at your house.”
As for the county, supervisors said they want a report back as soon as possible on how a ban would affect recycling programs and the local economy.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 18, 2007. Read the original PDF.