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Business & Tech

Altadenans Talk Bag Ban (Video)

Friday was the first day of the county ban on plastic bags. Reporter Laura Monteros talked with Altadena residents at Ralph's to see how they are adjusting to the new rules.

“If you have to buy them, they should have handles.”

 Indeed, all bags used in grocery stores in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County will have to be purchased from today on, since the ban on disposable plastic bags went into effect.  The man quoted above was referring to the handleless brown bags he paid 10 cents each for at the Altadena Ralphs on Friday, but other shoppers complained about the cost of reusable bags.  For more on the ban .

“The bags are pretty,” customer Linda Williams said of the large vinyl bags she had just purchased, “but they are pretty expensive.”

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The majority of shoppers Patch spoke with thought that reusable bags are a good idea, as reflected in the videos we shot (though we've had our share of criticism of the ban in on this site).  Some were prepared—Karen Raub has been using them for nine months already—and some just found out about it when we told them.

Ralphs manager Chris Marshall could not comment on the ban itself or Ralphs policies, but she did compliment her Altadena patrons.

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“I’m grateful to be up here,” she said.  “We have nice customers.”  On the way back into the store, Marshall took time to explain to Williams how to be sure she would have the bags for her next trip.  “Just put them in the back seat of your car,” she said.

Good advice.  But Williams came in a cab.

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