Why Will California's Plastic Bag Ban Leave Customers Paying More At Store?
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — California's plastic bag ban proposal could leave consumers feeling nickel and dimed as it could leave them paying more at the grocery store.
Paul Tibbets whistles as he works to load up his trunk with groceries inside plastic bags he's all in favor of getting rid of.
"I'm for it," he said. "I'm thinkin' it's a good thing."
But the plastic bag ban that's awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown's signature isn't registering well with shoppers who are realizing prices for staples such as milk, orange juice, coffee and bacon are at an all-time high.
In addition to the ban of plastic bags, paper bags will cost 10 cents each, thanks to a deal lawmakers cut with grocers.
Plastic bag manufacturers will also get $2 million to help them come up with a plan to make a heavier duty bag grocers can sell to customers.
We reached out to the California Grocers Association, which sent the following statement:
"We are thankful that our elected leaders saw through the tactics employed by out-of-state plastic companies seeking to block this measure, and stood up to special interests who do not have Californians' best interest in mind."
But Brown gets the final statement on this, and in an election year, it could be a difficult decision.
The governor's office says he hasn't taken a stance on the bill.
Republican challenger Neel Kashkari jabbed at Brown on Twitter, saying "Poverty? Jobs? Education? Rebuilding the middle class? Nope. Plastic bags. #embarrassing"
Brown has until Sept. 28 to either sign or veto the legislation.
