Plastic Bag Makers Respond to Weho Ban

Plastic bag manufacturers criticized West Hollywood's ban of the industry's product that went into effect Wednesday for large retailers.

The American Progressive Bag Alliance represents the United States’ plastic bag manufacturing and recycling sector, which employs 30,800 workers in 349 communities across the nation, including nearly 2,000 in California.

"West Hollywood’s plastic bag ban will not only hurt consumers’ pockets but also push them toward less sustainable alternatives," alliance Chairman Mark Daniels said in a statement. "Paper bags are a worse environmental option at checkout—using a large amount of water and emitting more greenhouse gases than plastic bags, and reusable bags cannot be recycled and are predominately imported from China."

Daniels also claimed reusable bags have also been found to host dangerous bacteria such as the stomach flu virus.

"Those interested in real solutions should consider the facts and not pass policies that hurt families and, ironically, the environment in the name of 'feel good' legislation," he added. "Instead they should look at increasing recycling programs that address all forms of plastic bags, sacks and wraps, building on a decade of progress in recycling."

The West Hollywood City Council approved an ordinance enacting the ban last summer.

Supermarkets and retailers larger than 10,000 square feet had to comply with the ban as of Wednesday. Smaller retailers and supermarkets must comply by Aug. 20.

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