No action taken on plastic bag ban

The City Council late Tuesday deferred a vote on whether to draft an ordinance that would prohibit stores and restaurants from distributing so-called single-use plastic bags to customers and would charge patrons for paper bags.

The measure is supported by Heal the Bay, an environmental organization that encourages consumers to shift to reusable bags to limit the amount of polluting plastic that flows into storm drains and the ocean.

Heal the Bay said the measure would be the “farthest-reaching bag ban” in the country. Five of seven council members had indicated that they would approve drafting an ordinance. The issue is now expected to be considered at a council meeting Tuesday.

The California Grocers Assn., a trade group for the food industry, opposes a ban.

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-- Martha Groves