San Francisco has proposed fining businesses and residents that do no sort compostables, recyclables and trash. John Cote writes for the San Francisco Chronicle that the measure is intended to increase the City's diversion rates by decreasing contamination:

The plan to require proper sorting of refuse would be the nation's first mandatory recycling and composting law. It would direct garbage collectors to inspect the trash to make sure it is put into the right blue, black or green bin, according to a draft of the legislation prepared by the city's Department of the Environment.

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The Los Angeles City Council voted this morning to ban plastic bags by 2010 if the State Legislature has not required a per-bag fee before then. The Los Angeles Time Editorial Board endorsed the ordinance today:

L.A.'s proposed ban not only promises to drastically reduce an environmental atrocity, it pushes the Legislature to do the same by threatening more draconian city action if the state fails to come through.

Full Editorial

The Council also voted today to phase out the use of foamed polystyrene ("Styrofoam") in city facilities.

CAW and Plastic Bags:

• AB 2058 (Levine) aims to reduce single-use bag litter.

The Los Angeles City Council will vote next Tuesday on whether to ban plastic bags 2011 if the State has not yet required a plastic bag fee.  They will also vote on a city-facility ban on foamed polystyrene ("Styrofoam") takeout food packaging.

CAW and Plastic Bags:

• AB 2058 would put a fee on plastic and paper bags.

The San Diego County city of Encinitas may vote to ban plastic bags, reports Terry Rodgers of the San Diego Union Tribune. If Encinitas approves the ordinance, it will join San Francisco, Manhattan Beach and Malibu--cities that have all approved plastic bag bans recently.

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Dave Heylen, a spokesperson for the California Grocers Association, told the San Diego Union Tribune that they oppose the ordinance unless it is expanded to include all plastic bags, not just those found at the checkout counter:

"To be truly effective, it should be applied to all retailers and even newspapers, which deliver their product in plastic bags."

CAW and Plastic Bags:

• CAW is sponsoring AB 2058, which would put a fee on checkout bags.