Sonoma County Plastic Bag Ban Goes Into Effect; Statewide Ban Bill Sits On Governor's Desk
SONOMA COUNTY (KCBS)— Sonoma County joins the growing list of jurisdictions in the State of California to impose a ban on plastic shopping bags. The ban went into effect on Monday.
The local ban comes on the heels of last week's decision by the state legislature to pass a bill that would ban plastic bags entirely in California if signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. It would be the first statewide ban in the nation with retailers charging a minimum of 10 cents for a paper or reusable bags.
The Assembly vote was 44 to 29, followed by the 22-15 Senate vote. Democrats called it a victory for the environment; Republicans called it a jobs killer.
Last week's deal-making involved big grocery chains and unions. State Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Los Angeles) was hopeful all along and was a key backer of the bill headed to Brown's desk.
After the bag ban died a slow death last year in the Senate, Padilla said nothing should be taken for granted and that Democrats have to remain aware to not "underestimate the opposition".
If signed into law, the statewide ban would go into effect July 1, 2016.
