Santa Cruz Set To Ban Plastic Bags For To-Go Food In Restaurants

SANTA CRUZ (CBS/AP) -- Santa Cruz was set to be among the first counties in the state to ban restaurants from using plastic bags for to-go food.

The county's Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to put restaurants back on the list of places prohibited from using plastic bags. The restaurant restriction is set to take effect on April 22, 2013.

The county already prohibits the use of plastic bags by grocers and convenience stores. It put restaurants on that list earlier but then removed them to settle a lawsuit.

Stephen Joseph, an attorney for Save the Plastic Bag Coalition, said the group will try to block the ordinance.

San Francisco has also voted to prohibit restaurants from using plastic bags. Its restaurant restriction is set to take effect in July 2013 although it is being challenged in court.

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