California's Plastic Bag Ban Defeated

A measure supported by State Senator Fran Pavely (D-Agoura Hills) that would ban plastic carryout bags in stores was defeated Tuesday night.

The proposal to make California the first state to implement a total ban was to go into effect in large stores in 2012 and small stories the following year.

After 2012, large stores would be allowed to charge customers for recycled paper bags.

Senator Fran Pavley told the Sacremento Bee that the trash from plastic bags each year made the ban a concept whose “time has come

The bill was defeated in a midnight senate vote with 14 votes in favor and 20 opposing.

The author of the bill was Julia Bronley, D-Santa Monica, who gathered environmental groups and Hollywood stars to back her proposal and win approval in the state Assembly.