Los Angeles has recently passed one of the toughest laws against plastic bags. According to the ban, "no store shall provide to any customer a plastic carryout bag." Exceptions to this ordinance only include plastic bags for fruit, vegetables or raw meat. Otherwise, a charge of 10 cent is required to purchase the plastic bag.

"Plastic bags are a pollutant. They pollute the urban landscape. They are what we call in our county urban tumbleweed," said Zev Yaroslavsky, of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Government figures show that just 5% of plastic bags are recycled in the United States.

(Source: L.A. County passes sweeping ban on plastic bags [Los Angeles Times])