"California Becomes First State To Ban Plastic Bags"

"SACRAMENTO - Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill Tuesday that makes California the first state in the nation to ban single-use plastic bags.

Many cities and counties in the state already have plastic bag bans in place, including San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles County. With Brown signing SB270 by Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, grocery stores and pharmacies statewide will phase out the use of plastic bags by July 2015. A year later, convenience stories and liquor stores can no longer distribute plastic bags.

'This bill is a step in the right direction - it reduces the torrent of plastic polluting our beaches, parks and even the vast ocean itself,' Brown said in a statement Tuesday. 'We’re the first to ban these bags, and we won’t be the last.'"

Melody Gutierrez reports for the San Francisco Chronicle September 30, 2014.