Calif. governor to sign plastic bag ban measure

California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) said he is “probably” going to sign a bill the Legislature passed last week to ban single-use plastic bags.

The prohibition on bags frequently used at groceries stores, convenience stores and pharmacies is meant to protect the environment from litter and reduce waste.

{mosads}“This is a compromise,” Brown said Thursday night at an election debate, according to the Los Angeles Times. “It’s taking into account the needs of the environment, and the needs of the economy and the needs of the grocers.”

Neel Kashkari, Brown’s Republican opponent, said he definitely would not sign the bag ban if he were in office.

The bill would make California the first state to impose an outright ban on plastic bags, though many cities have done so, including more than 100 in California, according to the Times. Brown cited the patchwork of laws in California cities as a reason for the state law, saying it would add consistency.

Customers would have the option of paying 10 cents for paper bags under the law.

The ban would take effect for grocery stores and pharmacies in 2015, and a year later for convenience stores and liquor stores.