Newport Students Urge Plastic Bag Ban

Two Sage Hill School students spoke Tuesday at the Newport Beach City Council to propose a ban on plastic bags.

Jodie Horowitz and Molly Chase addressed the City Council during the public comment portion of the meeting urging the city to join other communities that have banned plastic bags. The students urged the proposed a ban on plastic bags and a tax on paper bags Horowitz said

"We all know plastics bags are bad for the environment," Horowitz said. "Often plastic with its toxins end up in the ocean and are eaten by fish."

In 2011 the Newport Beach City Council dismissed looking into a ban on the use of plastic bags by retailers. Last month state Assemblyman Marc Levine (D-San Rafael), introduced a law to prohibit single-use plastic bags in California beginning in 2015.

Horowitz and Chase invited the City Council and community to the Oasis Senior Center in Corona del Mar on Thursday, April 18 for the screening of a documentary focused on the effects of plastic bags.

Do you think Newport Beach should ban plastic bags? Tell us in the comments.