(Please copy into a Word Document and put on your letterhead. Feel free to amend. If you have any questions call CAW at 916-443-5422)

<DATE>

Assembly Member Mike Feuer
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2142

RE: AB 904 (Feuer) Fast Food Packaging Reduction & Recycling — Support

Dear Assembly Member Feuer:

I am writing in strong support of AB 904, which proposes to phase out the use of takeout food packaging that cannot be either recycled or composted in the communities where it is distributed. This measure is part of a package of legislation aimed at reducing and recycling the sources of marine debris and waste, and tracks recommendations recently adopted by the California Ocean Protection Council.

Marine Debris is a growing problem for California’s $43 billion ocean-dependent sector of the economy. Marine debris—80% of which is land-based urban runoff—is a threat to water quality marine wildlife. According to the California Coastal Commission, more than 1 million sea birds, 100,000 marine mammals, and countless fish have die from ingesting or becoming entangled in marine debris. In the Pacific Gyre (twice the size of Texas), plastic outweighs plankton by 6 to 1. Local governments throughout Southern California are under a US EPA mandate to eliminate storm drain trash as a source of marine debris, and face hundreds of millions in new costs to address this problem. Caltrans has estimated the cost of retrofitting storm drains to capture litter and trash will exceed $300 million over the next decade. Ocean Protection Council estimates that current cost of cleaning up marine debris annually may well push the $1 billion mark.

Takeout food packaging comprises a disproportionately large portion of litter and non-recyclable waste. Analyses suggest that the fast food sector generates roughly 4 million tons of waste in California annually. A recent study by the California Integrated Waste Management Board found that the Fast Food Sector is recycling just 34% of waste generated on site (mostly cardboard transport packaging). There is currently virtually no recycling of take-out food packaging. The cost to California local governments and ratepayers for collecting and disposing of Fast Food Sector waste is as much as $600 million annually. Takeout food packaging has been found to be second greatest component of litter behind tobacco products, comprising 20-30% of all litter.

AB 904 is an important step in the reduction of non-recyclable litter and waste entering our marine environment, and mirrors recommendations made by the California Ocean Protection Council to reduce the use of single-use plastic packaging in the state. I am in strong support and urge your "Aye" vote when AB 904 is heard on the Assembly Floor.

Sincerely,

(Please FAX a copy of your signed letter to Californians Against Waste (916) 443-3912 for our records.)