Dive Brief:

• Legislators in California are considering a bill that will ban plastic bags across the entire state. The bill would not override bans already implemented at the local level.
• Senate Bill 270 would prevent supermarkets, liquor stores and pharmacies from using the bags beginning in July of 2015. Stores could offer reusable bags or recycled paper bags. 
• Of 14 billion bags are used in California, only 5% are being recycled. It is expected that the ban would prompt companies to increase the amount of recycled materials used in bags.

Dive Insight:

There are currently six states considering a ban on plastic bags. Every county in Hawaii has successfully passed a bag ban, yet the state does not have a statewide bag ban at this time. Almost 100 cities and counties in California have already passed local bans on the bags. Last year, a Senate Bill proposing a bag ban was not adopted due to three votes. The newer version of the bill is expected to contain enough compromises that it may be passed.