California Assembly Passes Plastic Bag Ban
Taking a significant step toward enacting the strongest legislation of its kind in the U.S., The California Assembly has voted to prohibit grocery, liquor, convenience and drug stores from offering customers plastic bags. The bill, which passed the Assembly in a 41-27 vote, still requires approval by the state’s Senate, however California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has already said he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk.
In addition to banning plastic bags, the California bill also requires customers to be charged for using store-provided paper bags. The legislation is considered even more sweeping than an ordinance passed in San Francisco in 2007, which requires supermarkets and large drug stores to offer customers bags made only of recyclable paper, cloth or plastic that can be turned into compost.
If approved by the California Senate, the plastic bag ban could go into effect as early as January 2012. California would become the first state in the country to enact such a law.
Regardless of where you stand on the issue of plastic bag bans, this bill is important from a marketing standpoint because it further underscores the value of incoroporating custom-branded non-woven or laminated totes into your promotional strategies. Some of our favorite reusable totes (including the one pictured above) come from Leeds, which offers a full range of tote products made from materials including organic cotton, 100% recycled PET, recycled poly, and more. Give us a call at 866-788-3226 and we’ll help you choose the right reusable tote for your promotion!