Plastic Bag Recycling OK'd by Assembly 44-29 (AB 2449, Levine)
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Gary Liss
May 18, 2006, 6:02:13 PM5/18/06
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Apologies for Cross-Postings - Next step - CA
Senate!
AB 2449 Would Establish In-store Recycling Programs
SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) today praised the
Assembly for passing of AB 2449, a measure that would require stores
with at least 40,000 square feet in retail space and above to establish
an in-store recycling program giving consumers an opportunity to recycle
plastic grocery bags into new plastic bags.
The bill, which was passed on the strength of a 44-29 vote, also
requires stores to place a plastic grocery bag recycling bin inside the
store and make reusable bags available for customers to purchase.
"Californians use over 19 billion plastic grocery bags each year,
creating 147,038 tons of unnecessary waste in our landfills,"
Assemblymember Levine said. "With Californians throwing away over 600
bags a second, they are creating enough waste to circle the planet over
250 times per year."
Each year millions of seabirds, sea turtles, fish, and marine mammals
become entangled in marine debris or ingest plastics which they have
mistaken for food. At other times, animals accidentally eat the plastic
while feeding on natural food.
According to recent U.S. EPA estimates, marine debris has had a negative
impact on at least 267 species around the world. The plastic constricts
animals' movements and can kill marine animals through starvation,
exhaustion, or infection from deep wounds caused by tightening material.
The animals may starve to death, as the plastic clogs their intestines
preventing them from obtaining vital nutrients.
Toxic substances present in plastics can cause death or reproductive
failure in fish, shellfish, and wildlife. In April of 2002, a juvenile
Minke whale was found dead on the shores of France - researchers
concluded the cause of death was the approximately two pounds of plastic
packaging and supermarket bags found in its stomach. Unfortunately,
California is one of the major contributors to the problem.
Data collected during California's annual Coastal Cleanup and the 1999
Pilot Litter Study by the Department of Conservation indicates that
disposable retail bags represent some of the most commonly littered
items. Plastic bags are easily carried by wind from uncovered trashcans
and dumpsters, vehicles, and solid waste facilities including landfills.
In fact, the Los Angeles River Cleanup in April 2004, found that plastic
film and bags constituted 45 percent of the litter they collected by
volume. Litter collection for beaches, state highways, cities and
counties cost the state $303.2 million each year.
Although volunteer coastal cleanups and public education efforts have
been very helpful in maintaining California's coastlines clean, more
needs to be done to reduce the waste. In order to reduce marine debris,
the amount of waste generated on land must be reduced and disposed of
properly. Recycling can significantly reduce the amounts of litter
reaching marine and coastal waters.
"California retailers are beginning to recognize the problems posed by
plastic bags and their responsibility in helping to tackle that
problem," Levine stated. "However, if Californians want to begin to
really address this problem we need to create a statewide program. AB
2449 will create the necessary infrastructure to collect and recycle
bags used thought the state."
The bill will next be heard in the Senate.
###
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bill Magavern < maga...@sierraclub-sac.org>
Date: May 18, 2006 1:11 PM
Subject: Assembly Floor Passage of Plastic Film Recycling Act
To: CALIF-ACTI...@lists.sierraclub.org
Sierra Club California supports this bill.
Bill
Date: Thu, 18 May 2006 14:38:04 -0700Assemblymember Lloyd Levine Praises the Assembly Floor Passage of Plastic Film Recycling Act
From: "David Tam" <davi...@gmail.com>
To: "Northern California Zero Waste Activists via" <davi...@gmail.com>
Subject: Plastic Bag Recycling (AF 2449, Levine) OK'd by Assembly 44-29
For Immediate Release
Contact: Alex Traverso, (916) 319-2647
May 18, 2006
AB 2449 Would Establish In-store Recycling Programs
SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) today praised the
Assembly for passing of AB 2449, a measure that would require stores
with at least 40,000 square feet in retail space and above to establish
an in-store recycling program giving consumers an opportunity to recycle
plastic grocery bags into new plastic bags.
The bill, which was passed on the strength of a 44-29 vote, also
requires stores to place a plastic grocery bag recycling bin inside the
store and make reusable bags available for customers to purchase.
"Californians use over 19 billion plastic grocery bags each year,
creating 147,038 tons of unnecessary waste in our landfills,"
Assemblymember Levine said. "With Californians throwing away over 600
bags a second, they are creating enough waste to circle the planet over
250 times per year."
Each year millions of seabirds, sea turtles, fish, and marine mammals
become entangled in marine debris or ingest plastics which they have
mistaken for food. At other times, animals accidentally eat the plastic
while feeding on natural food.
According to recent U.S. EPA estimates, marine debris has had a negative
impact on at least 267 species around the world. The plastic constricts
animals' movements and can kill marine animals through starvation,
exhaustion, or infection from deep wounds caused by tightening material.
The animals may starve to death, as the plastic clogs their intestines
preventing them from obtaining vital nutrients.
Toxic substances present in plastics can cause death or reproductive
failure in fish, shellfish, and wildlife. In April of 2002, a juvenile
Minke whale was found dead on the shores of France - researchers
concluded the cause of death was the approximately two pounds of plastic
packaging and supermarket bags found in its stomach. Unfortunately,
California is one of the major contributors to the problem.
Data collected during California's annual Coastal Cleanup and the 1999
Pilot Litter Study by the Department of Conservation indicates that
disposable retail bags represent some of the most commonly littered
items. Plastic bags are easily carried by wind from uncovered trashcans
and dumpsters, vehicles, and solid waste facilities including landfills.
In fact, the Los Angeles River Cleanup in April 2004, found that plastic
film and bags constituted 45 percent of the litter they collected by
volume. Litter collection for beaches, state highways, cities and
counties cost the state $303.2 million each year.
Although volunteer coastal cleanups and public education efforts have
been very helpful in maintaining California's coastlines clean, more
needs to be done to reduce the waste. In order to reduce marine debris,
the amount of waste generated on land must be reduced and disposed of
properly. Recycling can significantly reduce the amounts of litter
reaching marine and coastal waters.
"California retailers are beginning to recognize the problems posed by
plastic bags and their responsibility in helping to tackle that
problem," Levine stated. "However, if Californians want to begin to
really address this problem we need to create a statewide program. AB
2449 will create the necessary infrastructure to collect and recycle
bags used thought the state."
The bill will next be heard in the Senate.
###
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bill Magavern < maga...@sierraclub-sac.org>
Date: May 18, 2006 1:11 PM
Subject: Assembly Floor Passage of Plastic Film Recycling Act
To: CALIF-ACTI...@lists.sierraclub.org
Sierra Club California supports this bill.
Bill
Gary Liss
916-652-7850
Fax: 916-652-0485
www.garyliss.com
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