Five Large Stores in Beverly Hills No Longer Can Offer Plastic Bags

From the city of Beverly Hills:

The first phase of a ban on single-use plastic shopping bags took effect July 1, requiring shoppers at five large stores in the city to provide their own reusable bags or purchase paper bags.

To reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastic bags, the City Council voted unanimously in April to introduce the ban in phases modeled after the County of Los Angeles ordinance.

Phase I of this program affects supermarkets and large, retail stores with pharmacies. In Beverly Hills the stores are:

• Whole Foods
• Pavilion’s
• The two Rite Aid pharmacies
• CVS Pharmacy

A second phase starting Jan. 1, 2015 will ban the bags at small grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies and food markets.

In addition, the new ordinance directs stores to provide customers with recyclable paper bags at 10 cents each. The stores may provide customers with reusable bags for sale or no charge.

Since the ordinance’s adoption, the city has distributed reusable shopping bags to
residents at community events. Free reusable bags are available to residents, one bag per customer, while the supply lasts.

Residents can pick up a bag from July 7 to July 11 at the Public Works Building, 345 N. Foothill Rd., between the hours of 9 am to 3 pm. For more information please call 310 285-2467.