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Encinitas Votes To Ban Plastic Bags

The Encinitas City Council voted last night to ban the use of all single-use plastic shopping bags within the city. KPBS Environmental Reporter Ed Joyce tells us the plastic bag ban could spread to ot

Encinitas Votes To Ban Plastic Bags

The Encinitas City Council voted last night to ban the use of all  single-use plastic shopping bags within the city. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce tells us the plastic bag ban could spread to other cities in the county.

Encinitas city staffers are working on details of an ordinance that will phase-in the ban.  

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The ordinance may also require retailers to charge customers a fee on paper bags.

Gabe Solmer is with San Diego Coastkeeper which has been working on getting a similar ordinance enacted in the city of San Diego.

Solmer:
We're thrilled with the momentum behind this critical issue and we think that the victory in Encinitas shows cities like San Diego and others that this is possible, that it's needed and most importantly that the public is embracing it.

The San Diego City Council's Natural Resources Committee voted Wednesday to direct the City Attorney's office to draft a plastic bag reduction ordinance.

The ordinance could be considered by the full city council in the next few months.

There are also efforts to create a state law banning the one-time use plastic grocery bags.

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Ed Joyce, KPBS News.