Hot Issues
Plastic Bag Litter Pollution
Californians use 19 billion plastic bags every year. That's 600 bags per second! Far too many of these bags are littered and enter the ocean. Plastic bags are a primary source of litter because they are light and aerodynamic and are easily transported by wind into the watershed. Once littered, plastic bags essentially never biodegrade. Instead the sun breaks them into small pieces that choke and kill sensitive marine species such as turtles and birds. There is already up to 46 times more plastic than plankton in the North Pacific Gyre! AB 1998 (Brownley) would ban plastic bags at grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores.
Our Top Priority Legislation
AB 1998 (Brownley) - Plastic Bag Ban
Summary.
AB 1998 reduces plastic litter pollution and increases reusable bag use by banning plastic bags at grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores and similar stores.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. AB 1998 will next be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Previously, the bill passed out of Senate Environmental Quality Committee on June 28 with a 5-2 vote, passed off Assembly Floor on Jun 2 with a 42-27 vote, the bill passed out of Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 28 with a 11-5 vote, passed out of assembly Natural Resources Committee on April 12 and was introduced Feb 18.
Take ACTION! Send a support letter for AB 1998
AB 1343 (Huffman) - Paint Recovery Act
Summary.
This measure will require paint manufacturers to develop and implement a program to collect, transport, and process postconsumer paint to reduce the costs and environmental impacts of the disposal of postconsumer paint in this state.
Position and Status.
CAW supports. AB 1343 passed through the Assembly side and Senate EQ but was held in Sen Approps. This is now a 2-year bill.
AB 2138 (Chesbro) Plastic Ocean Pollution Reduction, Recycling and Composting Act
Summary.
Requires food providers to use only recyclable or compostable takeoutfood packaging and bags.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. AB 2138 was held in Assembly Appropriations committee. Previously, the bill passed Assembly Natural Resources Committee April 12 and was introduced February 18.
Description.
Single-use packaging is a primary source of urban litter and oceanic litter pollution, according to storm drain and beach cleanup studies. Polystyrene, plastic bags and other non-recyclable packaging have a high propensity to be littered because they are light and aerodynamic and are consumed away from home. Up to 80% of ocean pollution is litter from urban runoff, and non-recyclable single-use food packaging is a primary component of urban litter. Single-use food packaging litter kills wildlife such as birds and endangered sea turtles that become entangled or mistake it for food. More than 1 million sea birds, 100,000 marine mammals, and countless fish die from ingesting or becoming entangled in marine debris.
The volume of nonrecycled single-use food packaging distributed annually in California is staggering: the fast food sector alone generates 4 million tons of waste annually in California and retailers are currently distributing almost 14 billion plastic bags annually.
Actions
AB 1998 (Brownley) - Plastic Bag Ban
Summary.
AB 1998 reduces plastic litter pollution and increases reusable bag use by banning
plastic bags at grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores and similar stores.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. AB 1998 will next be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Previously, the bill passed out of Senate Environmental Quality Committee on June 28 with a 5-2 vote, passed off Assembly Floor on Jun 2 with a 42-27 vote, the bill passed out of Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 28 with a 11-5 vote, passed out of assembly Natural Resources Committee on April 12 and was introduced Feb 18.
AB 2398 (John Perez) - Carpet Product Stewardship
Summary: Requires producers of carpet to participate in a product stewardship program, under a plan approved by CalRecycle.
Position and Status. CAW supports. This bill will be heard in Senate Appropriations committee. Previously, this bill passed Senate Environmental Quality Committee on 6/28. In the house of origin, it went through Assembly Natural Resources, Asm. Appropriations and passed Assembly Floor with 49-27 vote.
Take ACTION! Send a support letter for AB 2398
Californians Against Waste is recognized as one of the nation's leading non-profit environmental research and advocacy organizations focusing on resource conservation and pollution prevention through waste reduction and recycling. The organization's 31 year history and track record of accomplishments has demonstrated it to be principled, practical, creative and effective. Find out more about CAW.
