Updated Oct. 24, 11:20 a.m. —
Drawing signatures of support as well as angry remarks, a paid petition-gatherer set up outside the Citrus Heights Walmart for several hours Thursday, hoping to gather signatures for an effort to overturn a recently passed law that would ban stores from offering plastic bags beginning July 1, 2015 — if opponents don’t gather enough signatures to put the issue before voters.
“I need these plastic bags,” said Kathleen Ring as she walked out of Walmart with a cart full of items bagged in plastic. “What else are you gonna pick up dog crap with?”
Others like shopper Tricia Wallen didn’t hold the same view, muttering “I’m not signing it — I want ’em gone,” as she passed by the petition table.
Preferring not to be identified due to privacy concerns, the petition-gatherer said about 90 percent of shoppers didn’t care, but the remainder were split about “50-50” on the issue. Shoppers in support of the ban tended to cite environmental concerns, while those opposed to the ban said they’d miss being able to reuse the bags for things like lining garbage cans or holding dirty diapers.
“I hate ’em,” said shopper and Citrus Heights resident Joel Sirugo as he loaded up his car with reusable Walmart bags. “You seen what they do to the oceans?”
In September, California became the first state to sign a plastic bag ban into law, but opponents with the American Progressive Bag Alliance quickly filed a referendum to overturn the law. The law allows for reusable bags, recycled paper and compostable plastic bags — but requires stores to charge a minimum 10 cent fee per bag.
Opponents of the plastic bag ban need to collect 504,760 valid signatures by December 29 in order to put the issue before voters. If successful, the ban would go on the ballot in 2016, and would legally halt implementation of the ban until voters decide the issue.
The full text of the law, SB 270, can be read here: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB270.
