2011 Year in Review: Politics
Plastic Bag Bans Spread Across West Coast
Los Angeles began enforcing on a controversial ban on disposable plastic bags, typically used at grocery stores and restaurants, on July 1. Business in the city were not allowed to give out plastic bags at all, and were required to charge $0.10 per paper bag given to customers. Retailers were encouraged to offer customers reusable tote bags as an alternative. At first limited to large retailers, the ban went into effect for all city businesses on January 1, 2012. Other California cities, including Long Beach, Santa Monica and San Jose, passed similar bans in 2011, and Seattle's city council voted unanimously in favor of a similar ban in December.
Kyle A. Richardson is the editorial director of Promo Marketing. He joined the company in 2006 brings more than a decade of publishing, marketing and media experience to the magazine. If you see him, buy him a drink.