California Passes Plastic Bag Ban

Lawmakers have given the nod to impose a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags in California.

This would make California the first state in the U.S. to impose such a ban.

The e bill, SB270, was cleared by the Senate on a 22-25 vote on Friday and sent to Governor Jerry Brown. The Assembly approved it on Thursday, reports the  Associated Press.

Earlier, some Senators like incoming Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon had opposed the bill. Safeguards were later added to the bill protect plastic bag manufacturers.

Introduced by Democratic Senator Alex Padilla, the bill  prohibits single-use plastic bags at grocery stores and large pharmacies from  2015. However, the ban on its use in convenience stories will comes into effect only in 2016.

The bill also gives $2 million as loan to manufactures so as to help them shift to making reusable bags. It will also enable grocers to levy 10 cents each on customers for paper and reusable bags.

The bill had faced sever opposition from plastic bag manufactures. They were of the opinion that the bill will result in a loss of around 2000 manufacturing jobs in California, reports USA TODAY.

California State Assembly Republican Member Tim Donnelly, who voted against the bill, said that the ban impeded personal freedom. He also said that it will be a burden to enforce it.

"So are we going to have plastic bag police climbing under your kitchen sink to see if you've used the bag a hundred times before you throw it out? Who has time in this day and age to wash their plastic bag out?" Donnelly said after Thursday's vote, reports USA TODAY.

Banning plastic bags statewide has always been a difficult goal for legislators aiming to bring down the increase of plastic waste in the oceans and other places. Millions of dollars are spent on cleaning up the waste also.