Plastic Bag Ban at Large Retail Stores Begins in Los Angeles

Shoppers not bringing their own reusable bags will have to pay 10 cents per paper sack

The first step in phasing out plastic bags in the city of Los Angeles has begun.

Shoppers in the city will have to pay 10 cents a recyclable paper sack at large retail stores unless they bring their own reusable bags under a new law that begins today, Jan. 1, 2014.

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Stores that make more than $2 million per year, such as supermarkets Vons and Ralphโ€™s, are seeing the change. Smaller independent markets wonโ€™t be affected by the law until July 1.

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About 2 billion single-use plastic bags are used in Los Angeles every year, according to an environmental report conducted by the city.

Los Angeles is now the largest of nearly 90 American cities to ban plastic bags.

Opponents of the ban say the new law will lead to job losses.

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