Plastic Bag Makers Want to Stop Bag Ban

Less than two weeks after Gov. Jerry Brown signed the law banning single-use bags in California, the plastic bag manufacturers are trying to repeal the law before it goes into effect.

A bag ban is already in effect in local cities like Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, but starting in July, plastic bags in Golden State grocery stores and pharmacies won’t be allowed. That is, unless the bag makers do something about it.

Anna Pryko shops in Goleta where plastic bags at grocery stores are still allowed. She said she isn’t looking forward to when they’ll be a thing of the past.

“Well I think it brings back bad memories of living in the Soviet Union. We always had to bring our bags and worry about this so I think it’s not a good thing,” she said.

Pryko said having the bags are a big convenience.

Bag manufacturers are banking on the love of the bag to get them 500,000 signatures that would ensure a referendum vote.

The manufacturers claim the law would jeopardize thousands of jobs and cost shoppers more money when they have to pay $0.10 for a paper bag if they don’t remember to bring a reusable one.

“I don’t like the bag ban because there is too many things in this state that are regulated and we’re getting over-regulated by this kind of thing,” said Les Eller.

Eller lives near Goleta and said he will sign on the dotted line to keep the bags.

“I would sign that petition,” he said.

Some people however, are excited about the new law.

“I think it’s awesome. It gets rid of plastic, which as you all know is really bad for the environment. It sticks around forever. A lot of people complain that you’re not going to have it for your trash bins but I think it’s a small price to pay for the benefits that we all get,” said Lakin Ambriz, a supporter of the ban.

Nicole Di Camillo, a lawyer at the Environmental Defense Center said, she doesn’t think it’s likely that the law will be overturned.

“I think it’s an uphill battle for them and I think there’s wide support. Over 100 cities and counties in California already have existing bans so I think there’s pretty wide voter support,” she said.

If the plastic bag makers want the people to vote, they will have to collect the signatures by January.

There is money associated with ban; about $2 million. That money will be used to help bag makers transition into making reusable one.