Save the what?!

A group calling itself the Save the Plastic Bag Coalition is suing a Southern California city for banning plastic bags. No, seriously.

Early last week at Los Angeles Superior Court, attorneys for SPBC charged Manhattan Beach hadn’t properly assessed the environmental consequences of its recent prohibition of the bags, reported the Daily Breeze. Not surprisingly, the group is backed by plastic manufacturers and retailers.

The group claims the city’s decision violates the California Environmental Quality Act. Manhattan Beach’s City Council approved the ban last month with the goal of reducing the environmental pollution and visual blight caused by the products.

SPBC members had threatened a lawsuit at the time of the decision. They say the ban will lead to significant increases in paper bag usage and worse environmental degradation. City officials contend the ban’s effects were adequately assessed and are confident their ordinance will hold up in court.