Bruce Frohman: Not sure bag ban is real
Although articles appearing in The Modesto Bee indicate the existence of supermarket plastic bag bans in some parts of California, I don’t know of any city that currently has a total ban.
In San Jose and San Francisco, merchants have to charge 10 cents for a plastic bag. They cannot give a bag away, but must charge for it. The customer can still obtain a bag. Did the state Legislature actually outlaw all plastic bags or pass a law requiring merchants to charge for a bag?
Fast food establishments seem to generate more litter than supermarkets. Can anyone explain why fast food shops were not included in the effort to reduce solid waste?
Bruce R. Frohman, Modesto
Editor’s note: Gov. Jerry Brown signed a statewide plastic bag ban into law in September; it will authorize local governments to fine stores that give away bans, similar to a law in San Francisco. According to the Sacramento Bee, no fines have been issued under the law in S.F.
This story was originally published October 30, 2014 at 6:40 PM with the headline "Bruce Frohman: Not sure bag ban is real."