Report: Lawmakers should ban plastic cups

SAN ANTONIO, Calif., July 26 (UPI) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Ocean Protection Council plans to release a report advising lawmakers to ban single-use plastic cups and bags.

The report, to be released next week, will recommend state leaders prohibit smoking on beaches, as well as ban fast-food restaurants from giving out polystyrene cups and recycle plastic bags or get rid of them completely, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

The recommendations are aimed at cutting down the amount of plastic debris on California beaches, the newspaper said.

The report advises state leaders to follow the lead of many coastal cities by banning single-use plastic supermarket bags and containers.

"We need to charge forward and have an overarching policy that is no less vigorous than these cities'," Lt. Gov. John Garamendi said.

The Times said the report could urge California to become a leading state in the effort to reduce plastic litter by increasing restrictions on the use of toxic products in plastics and cracking down on those who litter.