California becomes first state to ban single-use plastic bags

The U.S. state of California has passed the first statewide legislation in the nation banning single-use plastic bags.

The bags will be outlawed in grocery and convenience stores.

The bill, signed by Governor Jerry Brown, will take effect on July 1, 2015. “This bill is a step in the right direction – it reduces the torrent of plastic polluting our beaches, parks and even the vast ocean itself,” Brown said in a signing statement. “We’re the first to ban these bags, and we won’t be the last.”

Larger grocers, including Wal-Mart and Target, will be required to comply with the law beginning in July 2015, while convenience stores and food marts will have until July 2016.

The American Progressive Bag Alliance (APBA) immediately said it would seek a voter referendum to repeal the law. “Fortunately, California’s constitution provides voters the opportunity to stop bad laws through the referendum process,” said APBA executive director Lee Califf in a statement. “Our research confirms that the vast majority of California voters are opposed to legislation that bans recyclable plastic bags and allows grocers to charge and keep fees on other bags. So we have taken the necessary steps to gather signatures and qualify a referendum to repeal [the ban] on the November 2016 ballot.”