California Passes First Plastic Bag Ban in U.S.

The California state legislature enacted a ban on plastic grocery bags on Friday near the end of its two-year session, a measure that if signed into law would become the first of its kind in America. "Single-use plastic bags not only litter our beaches, but also our mountains, our deserts, and our rivers, streams and lakes," said state Senator Alex Padilla, who sponsored the bill. Governor Jerry Brown (D) has not signaled a position on the measure. More than 10 billion plastic bags are used in California each year, according to an estimate by Californians Against Waste.