California seeks to ban free, single-use carryout bags

The California State Assembly recently approved a bill that would make it the first state in the nation to ban single-use plastic and paper bags from being handed out free of charge at supermarkets, drug stores, convenience stores and liquor stores.

The proposed law, which was introduced in February of this year, would apply to supermarkets, chain pharmacies and other large grocery retailers beginning Jan. 1, 2012, and at convenience stores, neighborhood markets and liquor stores beginning July 1, 2013.

The bill, AB 1998, now heads for an Aug. 2 hearing before the Senate Appropriation Committe...