SB 1573 (Alarcón, 2005-06) Packaging Waste Reduction - Support

Summary. 
Requires the California Integrated Waste Management Board to update of the Preferred Packaging Procurement Guidelines, originally published by the board in 1994, so as to provide specified information to the private sector and recommend specific changes in state law to assist in reducing and preventing packaging waste.

Status. 
Although the bill passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee on April 24, it was held under submission in the Senate Appropriations Committee in May 2006.

Description.
This bill was amended to require the State Waste Board to update guidelines for packagers to curtail superfluous packaging and incorporate recyclable materials and designs. The updated guidelines would be more specific and current for the public sector as well as include recommendations in state law to address packaging waste. A 2003 U.S. EPA analysis of the Characteristics of Municipal Solid Waste found that containers and packaging accounted for more than 74 million tons of waste--the single largest component (31.7%). The cost burden on local governments and taxpayers for managing packaging waste is conservatively estimated at more than $1.5 billion annually. SB 1573 is intended to address the environmental and economic costs of excess packaging waste on California by directing producers to take responsiblity for reducing that waste.

CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422

Current Actions.
None.

Supporters: 
Environment California, Los Angeles City 
Councilmembers, Sierra Club California, 
StopWaste.org, Californians Against Waste

Opponents:
AeA, Alticor, American Chemistry Council,
American Forest & Paper Association, California 
Business Properties Association, California 
Chamber of Commerce, California Grocers 
Association, California League of Food 
Processors, California Packaging Alliance, 
California Manufacturers & Technology 
Association, California Paint Council, 
California Retailers Association, Consumer 
Specialty Products Association, Cosmetic, 
Toiletry and Fragrance Association, Dairy 
Institute of California, Dole Packaged Foods, 
LLC, Glass Packaging Institute, Grocery 
Manufacturers Association, International Diary 
Foods Association, Reckitt Benckiser plc, 
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, The 
Society of the Plastics Industry, The Proctor & 
Gamble Company, The Soap & Detergent 
Association, USANA Health Sciences, Inc., 
Western Growers Association, Wine Institute

Current Language, Analyses and votes