On July 1, 2010, a plastic bag ban will go into effect in America's second largest city: Los Angeles.  All 4 million-some residents will either need to own their own bags, or prepare to shell out $.25 per paper bag whenever they go  to any grocery store or retail outlet.  

While San Francisco already implemented a similar measure in 2007, the sheer size of L.A. makes the notion especially bold.  The city hopes to rid itself of some 2.3 billion, non-biodegradable plastic bags currently taking their time decomposing in landfills.  By 2012 California hopes the entire state will follow suit.

If the pioneering anti-smoking laws originating in California started a trend throughout much of the country, it's a safe bet banning plastic will also ripple eastward in due time.