CGA to Work With L.A. on Plastic Bag Reduction

The California Grocers Association here said yesterday it intends to work with the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors on the issues of litter abatement, recycling and the use of reusable bags at retail following a vote Tuesday by the board that that set benchmarks for reducing the number of plastic bags used.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Grocers Association here said yesterday it intends to work with the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors on the issues of litter abatement, recycling and the use of reusable bags at retail following a vote Tuesday by the board that that set benchmarks for reducing the number of plastic bags used. "We believe these issues can be resolved through a partnership with government, industry and our customers," CGA said in a prepared statement. In actions a day earlier, the supervisors voted in favor of a proposal requiring the industry to voluntarily reduce plastic bag usage 30% by July 2010 and 65% by July 2013; if those benchmarks are not met, the board voted to seek an outright ban on plastic bags. As part of a compromise suggested by CGA, the board reduced the benchmarks from 35% and 70%, respectively, with two of the five supervisors noting in a statement that it was imperative that the retailers who must administer the law should have a say in making the goals more achievable.