Leaders of five cities in California's San Mateo County will meet Jan. 18 to consider uniform law that would ban retailers from handing out single-use plastic bags, propose fines from US$100-US$500

Lorena Madrigal

SAN JOSE, California , January 5, 2012 (Associated Press) – Several San Mateo County cities will meet to consider drafting a uniform law banning plastic bags.

San Jose's bag-ban law went into effect Sunday. It bans retailers from handing out single-use plastic bags. San Jose shoppers must bring reusable bags or buy paper bags for 10 cents each.

Leaders of peninsula cities will meet Jan. 18 to discuss enacting a similar law for other cities in the county.

The San Jose Mercury News says San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Foster City and Millbrae have joined a county working group to craft an ordinance that could be uniformly adopted.

Plastic bags distributed at grocery stores and other retail establishments are seen as harmful to the environment and wildlife.

The uniform law proposes fines from $100 to $500.

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