SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The city council here voted unanimously this week to ban plastic shopping bags and set a charge for paper bags, effective in September.
The ban will not apply to plastic bags used for take-out orders by foodservice providers, nor to small plastic product bags with no handles, such as those used for produce.
Shoppers will be able to bring their own bags or buy paper bags at a cost of 10 cents each at supermarkets, drug stores, convenience stores and liquor stores. However, other stores, including department stores and farmers' market vendors, will be allowed to give out free paper bags.
The city council here had planned to consider the ban in 2008 before the threat of a lawsuit prompted the city to conduct an environmental review.
