While single-use plastic shopping bags are nearing ubiquity in American retail stores, carryout restaurants and grocers, many local governments and organizations are looking to find ways to keep the bags from becoming litter. Two very different approaches are being examined right now — increase recycling of the bags, or ban their use all together.

“There’s been a tremendous amount of imagery of the Pacific Garbage Patch and impacts on wildlife. Local governments wanted to do something,” said Carol Misseldine, coordinator of Green Cities California. “Local governments wanted to do something.”

The coalition of 10 local governments collects environmental laws, studies and practices from across the state and offers them as sample legislation for other jurisdictions. The group recently issued its Master Environmental Assessment on single-use and reusable bags.

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