St. Petersburg City Council committee advances plastic bag ban

A St. Petersburg City Council committee took the first step toward crafting a citywide ban on plastic shopping bags Thursday, reports the Tampa Bay Times. St. Petersburg’s Energy Natural Resources and Sustainability Committee voted 3-1 to start drafting the ordinance, with City Council member Ed Montanari casting the lone vote against the measure. Plastic bags have drawn the ire of many environmental groups since they don’t break down, can harm or kill wildlife, clog flood control systems and even serve…