--- title: "Los Angeles Plastic Bag Ban: Associations Split" id: "18048" type: "post" slug: "los-angeles-plastic-bag-ban-associations-split" published_at: "2013-06-21T18:32:33+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T19:03:26+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/06/21/los-angeles-plastic-bag-ban-associations-split/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/06/21/los-angeles-plastic-bag-ban-associations-split.md" excerpt: "Associations’ reactions were mixed following the Los Angeles City Council’s vote to ban plastic bags from grocery stores." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "plastic bags" - "Regulations" - "work environment" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "For-Profit CEO / President / Owner / Partner" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Los Angeles Plastic Bag Ban: Associations Split Los Angeles grocery store clerks are going to need a new line of questioning for shoppers if the city’s plastic bag ban gets final approval. On June 19, the [Los Angeles City Council voted to approve (opens in a new tab)](http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/18/usa-grocery-bags-idUSL2N0EU29820130618) a preliminary measure that would ban the use of plastic bags by grocery stores and drug stores that sell groceries. The City Council must vote on the proposed ordinance again next week for it to be officially adopted. The ordinance—which would go into effect January 1, 2014—also encourages customers to use reusable bags by requiring them to pay 10 cents per paper bag, according to a [Reuters report (opens in a new tab)](http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/18/usa-grocery-bags-idUSL2N0EU29820130618) . The city estimates that 2 billion plastic bags a year would be eliminated by the measure. The *Los Angeles Daily News* reports that the city’s Bureau of Sanitation will [distribute 1 million reusable bags to residents (opens in a new tab)](http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_23488474/plastic-bag-ban-approved-by-los-angeles-city) before the law takes effect. According to news reports, Los Angeles would be the largest city in the United States to adopt such a plastic bag ban. Association reaction was mixed following the vote. The California Grocers Association, a nonprofit representing approximately 500 retail members in California and Nevada, supports the measure and doesn’t think it will imposes a financial burden on retailers. “Really, the inconvenience will be the education to our consumers,” CGA president and CEO Ronald Fong told *Reuters*. The [CGA also endorsed a statewide approach (opens in a new tab)](http://www.cagrocers.com/?post_type=cganews&p=4313) in April that it said would offer “consistency and predictability” to shoppers and businesses. “We’re looking for competitive fairness for retailers,” Fong said in the April statement. “Retailers don’t want to be in a position where they need to abide by 70 to 85 different local ordinances.” However, the American Progressive Bag Alliance, a group formed by plastic bag makers, strongly opposes the move. “By voting to ban plastic bags and impose a 10-cent tax on paper bags, the Los Angeles City Council has sent a terrible message to manufacturers, small businesses and working families in the City of Los Angeles,” Mark Daniels, chairman of the APBA, said in a statement. “After recently being voted down in the State Senate, the California Grocers Association continues to peddle this bag ban and tax scam around the state because big grocers stand to make millions from collecting every penny of the tax on paper bags.” Daniels also said the measure “threatens the jobs of the 1,000 hard-working employees of Los Angeles area plastic bag manufacturers” and “will do more harm to the environment by pushing residents towards higher carbon footprint products.” (Stockbyte/Thinkstock) [Daniel Ford](https://associationsnow.com/author/daniel-ford/) Daniel Ford is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/daniel-ford/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#plastic bags](https://associationsnow.com/tag/plastic-bags/) [#Regulations](https://associationsnow.com/tag/regulations/) [#work environment](https://associationsnow.com/tag/work-environment/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: All for the Love of Chicago: Rethinking the Destination ExperienceSeptember 10, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/10/associations-now-presents-all-for-the-love-of-chicago-rethinking-the-destination-experience/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2013%2F06%2F21%2Flos-angeles-plastic-bag-ban-associations-split%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !