Aug 15 - Phase Two of West Hollywood Bag Ordinance Takes Effect Tuesday
The second phase of West Hollywood’s local ordinance restricting the distribution of single-use plastic bags will go into effect on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
The first phase of the ordinance, restricting single-use plastic and allowing a 10 cent charge for recycled content paper bags, went into effect in February for retail stores over 10,000 square feet. The second phase applies to retail stores under 10,000 square feet.
West Hollywood is one of several Southern California cities including Malibu, Long Beach, Calabasas, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Manhattan Beach, Pasadena, Glendale and Santa Monica, covered under local plastic bag ordinances. Northern California communities covered under local ordinances include Colma, Ukiah, Foster City, Los Altos and Richmond.
In January, LA City will implement its plastic bag ordinance—meaning that one-third of all Californians will soon live in communities that have banned single-use plastic bags.
Local governments are taking action to restrict single-use plastic bags in order to reduce litter and related clean up costs—up to $100 million annually. Plastic bags that blow out of trash cans and landfills impact storm drain systems and waterways and can end up in the ocean where they are a threat to marine wildlife.
A full list of the 79 California communities that are covered under ordinances restricting single-use plastic bags is available here.
Find out more about the problem of plastic marine pollution.