On July 1, 2008, the City of Manhattan Beach took a tough stance against plastic pollution and voted to ban businesses from using plastic carryout bags. The action distinguishes the city as the first in the South Bay and the second in L.A. County to ban plastic bags. Malibu approved a similar ban in May.

The City Council meeting was well attended by members of the local community and environmental groups including Heal the Bay, Surfrider, and Agalita Research Foundation. This local perspective along with survey results indicating over 80% of the City's Chamber of Commerce members favor a plastic bag ban were compelling factors in the ban's approval.

Another factor weighing heavily in the ban's favor was a Los Angeles city study in 2004 that found plastic bags made up 25 percent of the litter cleaned from 30 stormdrain catch basins.

As a result, all five Manhattan Beach council members voted in favor of the plastic bag ban. Highlights of the ban, which is similar to Malibu's, includes:

• A ban on biodegradable/compostable plastic bags.
• Ban effective within 6 months of adoption for large stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and city facilities and in one year for all remaining vendors and retailers.
• Staff also recommended that the Council consider a fee on paper bags as the ultimate goal is not to have people deciding between paper or plastic, but to use reusable bags.