Feb 20 - Asm. Levine Introduces Plastic Bag Reduction Benchmark Bill
Assemblymember Lloyd Levine's plastic bag reduction benchmark bill was introduced into the Assembly yesterday as AB 2058. The law, which was first announced in a January press release, builds upon the success of California's Plastic Bag Recycling Law (AB 2449, Levine 2006) by requiring retailers to meet plastic bag reduction benchmarks. Affected retailers will only be able to freely distribute plastic bags if they meet a 35% plastic bag reduction benchmark by 2011 and a 70% plastic bag reduction benchmark by 2013. Affected retailers may also fulfill the requirements of AB 2058 by charging a 15 cent fee on plastic bags; this approach has decreased plastic bag usage in Ireland by over 90%.
CAW and Plastic Bags: