California’s plastic bag ban on hold

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 18: A clerk bags groceries in plastic grocery bags on June 18, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles City Council is expected to vote on a proposed law would prohibit stores that sell pershiable goods for handing out the plastic grocery bags and fines would will be imposed for violators. It also calls for a 10-cent charge on paper bag use and regulations on the types of reusable bags that stores make it available to their customers. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) — A clerk bags groceries in plastic grocery bags on June 18, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.

California’s soon-to-be statewide ban on plastic bags won’t be taking effect unless voters endorse it on the ballot in November 2016.

That’s because plastic bag manufacturers represented by the The American Progressive Bag Alliance have gathered enough voter signatures to force a statewide vote via referendum at the next general election. The referendum won’t affect citywide laws already in effect in places like Los Angeles and Long Beach, but it could permanently put the brakes on the nation’s first ever statewide ban on plastic bags. Supporters say surveys show strong support for banning plastic bags.

Guest:

John Myers, Senior Editor of the California Politics & Government Desk at KQED