Californians Against Waste
Saturday May 19, 2012
Hot Issues
California's Bottle & Can Recycling Law - The Bottle Bill
Update: CalRecycle recommends adding all ready-to-drink beverages as part of their plan to get to 75% recycling by 2020.
California's Bottle Bill is one of the nation's most successful litter and pollution reduction programs. Since 1988, Californians have recycled more than 10 million tons of aluminum, glass and plastic beverage containers. No other recycling program or policy in this state has resulted in higher recycling levels, and no program of its kind in the country has been found to be more cost effective.
While the latest CA Beverage Container Recycling Rates show continued high--82% overall—container recycling rates, the picture is less rosy for Plastic Beverage Containers.
Current ‘loopholes’ in the beverage container recycling law means more than 250 million recyclable plastic bottles remain exempt from the program. This means more than 350,000 tons of plastic containers continue to be littered and landfilled at the same time that California-based plastic processors are struggling to get a sufficient supply of recycled plastic to meet manufacturer demand. Increasing the use of recycled plastic in California manufacturing means both jobs and reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Take Action
Take Action On Single-Use Plastic Bag and Polystyrene Ordinances
The problem of plastic litter is only growing. Plastic is the fastest-growing component of the waste stream, and plastic pollution like expanded polystyrene (eps) and single-use bags are among the most commonly found items during beach and coastal cleanups. Because plastic essentially never biodegrades, once littered plastic becomes a permanent environmental problem.
The solution is clear: highly-littered plastic items like plastic bags and polystyrene food packaging need to be banned. Californians should reduce their use of disposable packaging. Find out more about our Campaign to End Single Use Plastic Bags and other plastic litter.
Take action by sending in a support letter or signing a petition urging jurisdictions to move forward with ordinances restricting single-use plastic.
Our Top Priority Legislation
AB 960 (Bonnie Lowenthal) - E-waste Export
Summary.
AB 960 will help reduce the export of electronic waste overseas.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports.
AB 960 was held in Senate Appropriations and is now a 2 year bill.
SB 568 (Lowenthal) - Polystyrene Food Containers
Summary.
SB 568 prohibits food vendors from dispensing cooked food in expanded polystyrene (eps) foam containers.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports.
SB 568 is inactive on the Assembly floor but eligible to be voted on this year.
AB 1933 (Gordon) - Bottle Bill Enforcement
Summary.
This bill is an enforcement bill to reduce fraud from recyclers attempting to import and redeem beverage containers in CA. This measure would lower the load limit a person can import beverage containers into the state before reporting to CalRecycle, and also requires documentation of the source and destination of the material.
Position and Status.
CAW-sponsored bill. AB 1933 passed out of policy and fiscal committee unanimously. It is currently on the Assembly Floor.
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 34 year history and track record of accomplishments has demonstrated it to be principled, practical, creative and effective. Find out more about CAW.
