An online ebola survey from Drug Topics had over 2/3s of responders doubting the local hospital could cure an ebola outbreak.

Meanwhile in California, on the horizon: Plastic bags targeted for removal, and it is not just in pharmacies. For the full criteria of stores see the end of this blog*.

Existing California law requires store owners to recycle plastic bags on site until 2020. Paper bags will be available, but only if the customer pays a dime per paper bag. Starting July 2015 "compostable bags" will be available in limited areas for a price of at least a dime, but it could be higher. 

All subsequent quotes will be from the law 
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB270

For the technical policy wonk it is: CHAPTER  5.3. Single-Use Carryout Bags

Reusable bags would be available if:
"certified reusable grocery bag producer and to meet specified requirements with regard to the bag’s durability, material, labeling, heavy metal content, and, with regard to reusable grocery bags made from plastic film on and after January 1, 2016, recycled material content."

Failure to comply with the law is inadvisable:
"The bill would allow a city, county, or city and county, or the state to impose civil penalties on a person or entity that knows or reasonably should have known it is in violation of the bill’s requirements. The bill would require these civil penalties to be paid to the office of the city attorney, city prosecutor, district attorney, or Attorney General, whichever office brought the action, and would allow the penalties collected by the Attorney General to be expended by the Attorney General, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to enforce the bill’s provisions."

Plastic bag companies are going to have to design a re-usable bag for California To lessen the pain the state will allow for funding in the form of loans & tax credits:

"(e) Applicants for funding under this section may also apply for funding or benefits from other economic development programs for which they may be eligible, including, but not limited to, both of the following:

(1) An income tax credit, as described in Sections 17059.2 and 23689 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) A tax exemption pursuant to Section 6377.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code."

Loans are also available.

42288.

 (a) Notwithstanding Section 42023.2, the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the Recycling Market Development Revolving Loan Subaccount in the Integrated Waste Management Account to the department for the purposes of providing loans for the creation and retention of jobs and economic activity in this state for the manufacture and recycling of plastic reusable grocery bags that use recycled content, including postconsumer recycled material.

(b) The department may expend, if there are applicants eligible for funding from the Recycling Market Development Revolving Loan Subaccount, the funds appropriated pursuant to this section to provide loans for both of the following:

(1) Development and conversion of machinery and facilities for the manufacture of single-use plastic bags into machinery and facilities for the manufacturer of durable reusable grocery bags that, at a minimum, meet the requirements of Section 42281.

(2) Development of equipment for the manufacture of reusable grocery bags, that, at a minimum, meet the requirements of Section 42281.

(c) A recipient of a loan authorized by this section shall agree, as a condition of receiving the loan, to retain and retrain existing employees for the manufacturing of reusable grocery bags that, at a minimum, meet the requirements of Section 42281.

(d) Any moneys appropriated pursuant to this section not expended by the end of the 2015–16 fiscal year shall revert to the Recycling Market Development Revolving Loan Subaccount for expenditure pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 42010) of Chapter 1.

The 5 types of stores that qualify:

(1) A full-line, self-service retail store with gross annual sales of two million dollars ($2,000,000) or more that sells a line of dry groceries, canned goods, or nonfood items, and some perishable items.

(2) Has at least 10,000 square feet of retail space that generates sales or use tax pursuant to the Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law (Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 7200) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code) and has a pharmacy licensed pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code.

(3) Is a convenience food store, foodmart, or other entity that is engaged in the retail sale of a limited line of goods, generally including milk, bread, soda, and snack foods, and that holds a Type 20 or Type 21 license issued by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

(4) Is a convenience food store, foodmart, or other entity that is engaged in the retail sale of goods intended to be consumed off the premises, and that holds a Type 20 or Type 21 license issued by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

(5) Is not otherwise subject to paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4), if the retail establishment voluntarily agrees to comply with the requirements imposed upon a store pursuant to this chapter, irrevocably notifies the department of its intent to comply with the requirements imposed upon a store pursuant to this chapter, and complies with the requirements established pursuant to Section 42284.