Recycling Advocate April 26, 2011 Vol. 16 – Num. 3
Plastic Bag Update
The following local governments have moved forward with local bag ordinances.
- On April 26, 2011, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors passed a carryout bag ordinance banning single-use plastic bags and placing a 15 cent minimum price requirement on single-use paper bags. Californians Against Waste, along with several other environmental groups, testified in support of the ordinance. There were no opposing groups in attendance at the hearing, and the Board passed the ordinance with a 4-1 vote. The ordinance will go into effect on January 1, 2012.
- The City of Long Beach will be considering its ordinance, a single-use plastic bag ban and 10 cent minimum price requirement on single-use paper bags, on May 17, 2011. If passed, the ordinance would take effect in larger stores on August 1, 2011, and expand to other stores in February of 2012. Find out more and take action here.
Environmental Advertising Compliance Campaign
Over the last six months, CAW has undertaken an effective campaign targeting deceptive ‘Green’ marketing claims by product and packaging manufacturers.
In partnership with the State Attorney General’s office and local District Attorney, CAW has been successful in forcing several national manufacturers to pull products and product advertising from the marketplace because of deceptive and misleading environmental marketing claims.
Misleading claims can cause damage to recycling and composting programs and undermine public confidence in legitimate environmental claims and product information. For example, claims of biodegradability can increase littering and can contaminate composting and recycling streams.
You Can Help! If you see a product that you find has misleading or deceptive ‘green’ marketing claims, please send us an email with product information and ideally a photo of the claim to CAW.
Our campaign has three primary components: Enforcement, Public Education, and Public Policy.
- Communicating with Local District Attorney’s and the State’s Attorney General Office—resulting in the AG’s office review of companies selling bags and bottles in the state of California.
- Providing ongoing guidance and background support to a private law firm—resulting in the proceeding of a private class action lawsuit against a company that was in violation of Truth in Environmental Advertising laws.
- Presenting at several conferences and meetings– resulting in increased awareness about bioplastic issues amongst manufacturers, composters, retailers, local governments and regulators.
- Legislatively, CAW supports SB 567 (DeSaulnier) which will expand California’s existing end-of-life labeling requirements from bags and food packaging to all plastic products and limit misleading statements about product degradation.
Legislative Update
This year’s legislative session is in full force, as several CAW supported bills were passed in committee last week and yesterday, while others are scheduled for upcoming hearings.
The following recycling bills passed in committee:
- AB 818 (Blumenfield), the Renters’ Right to Recycle Act, brings the opportunity to recycle to the underserved sector of apartment complexes and other multifamily dwellings.
- SB 568 (Lowenthal) prohibits food vendors from distributing foamed polystyrene food takeout containers.
- AB 525 (Gordon) extends a successful statewide tire recycling program that promotes the recycling of waste tires in Rubberized Asphalt Concrete.
- AB 960 (Lowenthal) helps tackle the problem of illegal e-waste exports to foreign countries by requiring recyclers to conform their exporting practices in order to receive payments for collections.
- AB 341 (Chesbro) expands recycling services to multi-family dwellings and businesses, and sets a statewide goal of a 75% diversion rate by 2020.
- AB 1149 (Gordon and Wieckowski) would extend a January 1, 2012 sunset for the Plastic Market Development program to continue investment in California’s plastics recycling and manufacturing infrastructure.
Recycling News
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