Octavio Garduno of Temecula is doing his part to keep plastic shopping bags out of the landfill and storm drains that eventually spill into the ocean.

While bagging groceries at a local market recently, Garduno said he recycles his plastic bags, faithfully placing them in the recycle bin he rolls out to the curb on trash day.

There's only one problem: Temecula's trash pickup program doesn't provide plastic-bag recycling, according to Greg Butler, the city's public works director.

Nor do other municipal programs in southern Riverside County and northern San Diego County, local trash haulers said.

But what if they did?

What if California communities were required to offer curbside recycling of plastic carry-out bags?

After all, many grocers already have receptacles for collecting used plastic bags in their stores.

Burt Munger, a software developer from Vista, said a convenient, curbside recycling program could negate the need for the controversial statewide ban on plastic bags that Sacramento is considering.

In banning plastic bags, the Legislature would push customers to bring reusable cloth bags to stores.

If they forget to, or choose not to, customers would have to buy recycled paper bags ---- for a nickel apiece ---- to bag their groceries.

The proposed ban could be adopted by the end of August and take effect in 2012.

It is being advanced through Assembly Bill 1998, sponsored by Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, D-Santa Monica.

The proposal is generating a lot of negative reaction from residents.

In light of that, Munger suggested a less controversial and perhaps more effective alternative would be to take advantage of the widespread curbside recycling and add plastic bags to the list of recycled items that can be placed in bins.

"Build it into something you already have," he said, in a telephone interview Friday.

Munger said that would help the environment, while preserving a product with much utility.

"The reason they're so popular is that they're a good solution for carrying groceries," he said. "When they get wet, the bottom doesn't fall out when you pick them up."

A constant evolution

It turns out some waste haulers and communities are experimenting with plastic-bag curbside recycling.

Elizabeth Neubrand, a spokeswoman for Waste Management in San Diego and Orange counties, said pilot programs are under way in Irvine, Laguna Beach, Lake Forest, La Habra, Mission Viejo and Santa Ana.

Alex Braicovich, senior region vice president of CR&R in Perris, said his company is experimenting, too, separating and collecting any plastic bags that happen to arrive at its Orange County processing plant.

"It is something that we are kicking around internally to see if it makes sense to add that to our waste recycling stream," Braicovich said. "We are always looking for ways to divert more material from the landfill in order to minimize the impact to the environment. For us, it's a constant evolution."

CR&R serves the cities of Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Perris and San Jacinto, the portion of Wildomar west of Interstate 15, and unincorporated Riverside County.

Nearby Murrieta and Menifee are served by Waste Management.

Officials in the San Diego County city of Solana Beach are planning to launch their own pilot curbside plastic-bag recycling program, although the details are still being worked out, Councilman Dave Roberts said.

Dan King, a management analyst for the city, said Solana Beach already has receptacles for plastic-bag collection at City Hall and La Colonia Community Center.

The better approach

But Braicovich said the "jury is out" on whether curbside bag recycling has the potential to be successful on a large scale.

"The concern is finding secure end markets," he said. "What that means is making sure that we have somebody who will basically take them and process them."

That's one reason why the California Coastal Coalition, which represents 35 coastal cities and five counties, is backing the proposed ban, said Steve Aceti, the group's executive director.

"It's kind of a Catch-22, where it would be great to have curbside recycling for plastic bags, but there aren't a lot of recyclers," said Aceti, who lives in Encinitas.

But despite that, Aceti said he doubts participation would be very high if recycling was offered at the curb.

The California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery estimates that 5 percent of plastic bags statewide are recycled now.

"I think the better approach is not to rely on consumers' good intentions," Aceti said. "If there are no bags there for me at the store, I'm going to remember to bring in the reusable bags that I have in my trunk. We need to change human behavior."

Asked about the idea of setting aside a ban in favor of curbside recycling, Brownley, the plastic-bag bill sponsor, said a ban still is preferable.

"Some cities already accept plastic film for recycling in the containers residents put out for pickup, while others rely on the recycling program now available in all grocery stores," Brownley said. "Despite the convenience of this program, which has been in place for the past three years, less than 5 percent of plastic carry-out bags are recycled."

And, she added, "It is far better to reduce waste than to recycle it. ... My bill aims to eliminate the problem at its source."

Call staff writer Dave Downey at 951-676-4315, ext. 2623.