Governor Brown Issues Bold Statement in Signing First Wave of Plastic Pollution Reduction Bills
SACRAMENTO— California Governor Jerry Brown today signed four key bills and made his boldest statement to date on the public health and environmental threat posed by plastic pollution and waste.
“Plastic has helped advance innovation in our society, but our infatuation with single-use convenience has led to disastrous consequences,” said Governor Brown. “Plastics, in all forms-straws, bottles, packaging, bags, etc.-are choking our planet.”
Among the plastic pollution reduction bills signed by Governor Brown today:
AB 1884 (Calderon, Bloom) requires restaurants to offer straws only upon request.
SB 1335 (Allen) requires reusable, recyclable, or compostable takeout food packaging at state facilities, including parks, beaches, colleges, and fairgrounds.
SB 1263 (Portantino) directs the California Ocean Protection Council to develop a Statewide Microplastics Strategy.
SB 1422 (Portantino) requires drinking water to be tested for microplastic pollution, and for results to be disclosed to the public.
Adhering to the California waste hierarchy by targeting source reduction, AB 1884 (Calderon, Bloom) would transition sit-down restaurants to a straws upon request policy.
“By removing the default behavior of providing straws with every drink, consumers have an opportunity to make a deliberate, small change that will minimize the harmful impacts of single use plastic straws in the environment. It’s a small but significant step forward and will hopefully set the precedent for the rest of the nation to adopt similar policies that will ensure less plastic ends up harming the environment,” said Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon.
SB 1335 (Allen) phases out takeout food packaging that is not widely recycled or composted, has toxic ingredients, makes up a significant portion of pollution in public spaces, or substantial negative impacts on wildlife from being used at state facilities, including state parks, beaches, colleges, office buildings, and fairgrounds.
“California will set a positive example by showing the world that it’s possible to switch from environmentally damaging food packaging to sustainable alternatives,” said Senator Ben Allen. “Our new policy will help lead the way to widespread availability and acceptance of to-go food containers that are affordable, recyclable, compostable and non-toxic.”
"EPS foam take-out food packaging and food wrappers are some of the worst offenders at beach cleanups, accounting for over 20% of items picked up at California’s Coastal Cleanup Day in 2017,” said Shannon Waters, Healthy Beaches Manager at Surfrider Foundation. “We commend Senator Allen for his leadership authoring SB 1335. It's a win for all of California to enact legislation like this that will help prevent trash from reaching our ocean and beaches."
Melissa Aguayo, Advocacy and Education Director with The 5 Gyres Institute commented on SB 1335’s passage, "Eight of the top thirteen worst plastic product offenders on our Better Alternatives Now (BAN) List 2.0 are tied to take-out. Our on-the-go lifestyle leads to more eating out than ever, the plastic is piling up and it comes with a high cost to our health, marine life, communities and ocean….Something that is used for minutes should not be made with a material that was made to last forever. "
“In the last year, Heal the Bay volunteers removed 101,162 pieces of Styrofoam and polystyrene trash from popular beaches in greater L.A. Yet, the flow of foam still remains a constant threat to marine animals, wildlife and habitats, said Mary Luna, Coastal & Marine Scientist at Heal the Bay. “SB 1335 is a step in the right direction to systematically reduce plastic pollution in our communities and the environment.”
SB 1263 (Portantino) would require the Ocean Protection Council to adopt and implement a statewide microplastics strategy.
“A growing body of research has shown that microplastics are present in marine environments, within marine organisms, and in drinking water,” said Senator Portantino. “Greater knowledge can lead to increased efforts at recycling, decreased use of plastics, decreased pollution, and an overall healthier public and planet.”
“California is continuing to fill the vacuum of federal leadership by tackling our plastic pollution crisis and the throw-away culture that causes it,” said Mark Murray, Executive Director of Californians Against Waste. “Single use plastic products that we use for mere moments pollute our planet at every stage: beginning with air and water contamination from oil and gas extraction, continuing through the production process, and ending with disposal, where an estimated eight million tons enter the oceans every year and millions of tons end up in landfills and incinerators.”
“Ocean plastic is estimated to kill millions of marine animals every year. In fact, after a dead pilot whale washed up in Thailand, researchers found 80 plastic bags in its stomach that had prevented the mammal from digesting food. Nor are humans immune as microplastics were recently found in tap water around the world,” said Governor Brown. “It is a very small step to make a customer who wants a plastic straw ask for it. And it might make them pause and think again about an alternative. But one thing is clear, we must find ways to reduce and eventually eliminate single-use plastic products.” (emphasis added)
In 2016, California voted to become the first state in the nation to ban single use plastic grocery bags. Data from statewide beach clean ups show that policy is already delivering results in terms of reduced pollution and waste.
Governor Brown has until September 30 to sign or veto remaining bills sent to him by the Legislature.
Updated on 9/28/18 to reflect the signing of SB 1422.