Plastic Bags Banned in Oakland, Calif.

City council members in Oakland, Calif., have voted to restrict the use of non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags within city limits.

The decision followed that of neighboring San Francisco, and marked an attempt by Oakland officials to promote environmental awareness in the area, Oakland Tribune reported Wednesday.

Council member Patricia Kernighan said that while Tuesday’s vote did not apply to all uses of the bags by local supermarkets and restaurants, it did represent a positive step forward.

It’s a good first small step, the Grand Lake-Chinatown councilwoman said. It’s not going to solve all of the problems in the world.

The new law forbids supermarkets from using the petroleum-based bags at their check-out areas, but not in other areas of the stores.

Two council members abstained from the vote, citing a need for further investigation of the proposal. They said there were questions about enforcement and the potential impact the law might have on the grocery industry.