Politics & Government

Poll: Should Berkeley Ban Plastic Bags?

The City of Berkeley has been considering a plastic bag ban for three years. Now, Alameda County is in the process of drafting a law, which may include either a mandatory or optional ban.

"Paper or plastic?" the clerk at the grocery store asks.

You choose plastic. The clerk grabs a bag from the metal rack, then another, before double-bagging your groceries so that they don't spill all over the street when you leave the store.

You get home and unpack. What's left? Bags, bags and more bags. 

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But perhaps not for long. The Alameda County Waste Management Authority is in the process of drafting legislation that will either include mandatory plastic bag ban for all cities and unincorporated areas of the county, or an optional ban.

What will the City of Berkeley decide, if given the choice? To ban, or not to ban?

Find out what's happening in Berkeleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Students at UC Berkeley rallied Wednesday in support of a plastic bag ban in Berkeley. With the help of the California Public Interest Research Group, the students say they have gathered 3,000 signatures on a petition urging the Berkeley City Council to pass a plastic bag ban.

Currently, 13 California cities have bans in effect, including San Francisco. Should Berkeley join them?


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