It's Official: No More Plastic Bags in Long Beach

So after the long debate about banning plastic bags from grocery stores, the city of Long Beach has made it clear that the plastic bag ban will begin August 1. Below is a press release that was sent out this morning. What are your thoughts on this whole issue? Let it be known in the comment section below.

Long Beach officials will give away free reusable bags on July 21 at the Vons grocery store on 600 East Broadway. Bags will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis from 9 AM to 11 AM, while supplies last.

Long Beach residents are reminded to "Take a Tote" when shopping at large grocery stores, big box retailers and large drug stores that sell food and perishable items. Beginning August 1, 2011, these stores will no longer provide plastic bags. To view a list of retailers affected, please visit http://www.longbeach.gov/www.litterfreelb.org.

"Long Beach is ground zero for plastic bag pollution in southern California. What starts out as litter on the street 40 miles away from Long Beach becomes marine debris half buried on our beaches or floating in a few feet of water off our shores," says Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal. "As a beach city, and particularly one that is located at the base of the Los Angeles River, I hope our ban will inspire upstream cities to think sustainably, and consider reducing their plastic waste as well."

Information on the plastic bag ban is available at http://www.longbeach.gov/www.litterfreelb.org. Created by the City of Long Beach, this website provides information on the 10-cent charge per paper bag, "Toting Tips", as well as a host of answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Long Beach residents and consumers are being encouraged to bring their own reusable bags when shopping to help reduce litter and preserve landfill space.

For customers participating in the California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children or the Supplemental Food Program, stores are required to provide a free reusable bag or paper bag. Under this ordinance, paper bags can also be purchased from retailers at a cost of 10-cents per bag. The 10-cent fee will be retained by the retailer to assist with costs associated with the Ordinance, as well as educational materials designed to encourage the use of reusable carryout bags.

In May 2011, the Long Beach City Council voted to ban the distribution of plastic carryout bags and approved a 10-cent per bag charge for recyclable paper bags. The plastic bag ban ordinance was designed to:

Reduce litter in our neighborhoods;

Reduce plastic debris in our waterways and storm drains;

Reduce waste transported to landfills; and

Promote the use of reusable bags.

The first phase of the ordinance goes into effect on August 1, 2011, and applies to large retailers that sell food and perishable items. A complete list of affected stores is available onhttp://www.longbeach.gov/www.litterfreelb.org.The second phase of the ordinance will go into effect on January 1, 2012 and applies to neighborhood markets and pharmacies, convenience stores, bodegas, sandwich and coffee shops, liquor stores and farmers' markets that sell food and perishable items.For more information on the Long Beach Plastic Bag Ban, please visit http://www.longbeach.gov/www.litterfreelb.org, contact info@litterfreelb.org or call 562.570.2876.

562CityLife is in part funded by a Long Beach Community Foundation Connected Corridor grant supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation's Transformation Initiative.

This blog is in part sponsored by the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra

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Comment by Sybil Knight on October 31, 2011 at 2:45am: I think a good idea, especially in this economy, is for the stores to make available the boxes they intend to discard. Some people can't afford the extra cost of paper bags, even at 10 cents each, and others - such as myself have valid concerns about reusing grocery bags and possible cross-contamination. I tried washing a reusable bag because it was used to transport raw meat, packaged, but still raw. The darned bag fell apart.

Comment by JulsnMatt1028 on October 30, 2011 at 9:13pm: @Sybil - That's a good point...

Comment by Sybil Knight on October 29, 2011 at 5:12pm: I am curious why there are still unlimited plastic bags in the produce department; especially since those are the size and type of bags that are most likely to be discarded rather than re-used. I hadn't really paid attention until I was in the checkout line with only a few items, reusable bag in tow - and the person behind me bought over $100 worth of veggies and every single one of those vegetables was bagged in it's very own plastic produce bag.

Comment by Jane Tipton on July 27, 2011 at 10:07am: Hey Matt Ima catch u at the store rockin those AILB bags now huh? Represent...LOL

Comment by JulsnMatt1028 on July 25, 2011 at 11:57pm: @Frank - Yeah, pretty much that and maybe wrapping up some foods before throwing them in the trash. (Not a composter obviously...) Easy enough habits to change though.

Comment by Frank Foreal on July 25, 2011 at 11:21pm: What does everyone use these bags for? All I can think of is picking up after pets and those little office/bathroom trash cans.

Comment by THEE DOPE SHOW on July 21, 2011 at 6:50pm: looks like i am going to carson...

Comment by Michael JB on July 21, 2011 at 4:34pm: @JulsnMatt1028 - I would ask them "how is it a right to get a plastic bag when we go shopping? think ahead and take your own bag or come out of $0.10 and buy a paper one at the store. or go to a store that still has plastic bags."

@The Man - word! i had to go dumb for a moment.

Comment by The Man on July 21, 2011 at 4:06pm: @michael "And just to be humorous with it for a moment....give it a few weeks and I bet you someone will start "slangin" plastic bags right out side your local grocery store! I can see it now "I got that work. 5 cents per bag!""
That had me ROLLIN'!

Comment by JulsnMatt1028 on July 21, 2011 at 11:55am: THAT's an AWESOME idea! I'm going to go buy all the surplus plastic bags right now! :)

Someone on Facebook made a comment about this being another area of government infringing on their rights. Thoughts?

It's Official: No More Plastic Bags in Long Beach

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