California bill to ban plastic bags advances

A bill that would make California the first to impose a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags at certain retail stores has passed a key legislative committee.
SB270 passed an Assembly committee Wednesday after similar bans had failed in recent years.

About 100 cities and counties in California have banned plastic bags to protect water and parks from a buildup of litter.

The bill by Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of Los Angeles includes $2 million to help plastic ban manufacturers change their processes and a 10-cent fee on paper bags.

A national coalition of plastic bag manufacturers is airing television ads against the legislation. It calls it a money grab by grocers and says it will lead to a loss of jobs.
The bill heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.