"(CNN) -- Mexico City's thousands of stores went green Wednesday, as amended ordinances on solid waste now outlaw businesses from giving out thin plastic bags that are not biodegradable." "Mexico City becomes the second large metropolitan area in the Western Hemisphere to outlaw the bags." "Los Angeles is set to impose a ban if the state of California does not enact a statewide 25-cent fee per bag by July...About 90 percent of the bags used in the United States are not recycled." Mexico City bans stores from distributing plastic bags - CNN.com