Summary.
Requires large groceries and pharmacies that distribute free plastic bags to meet phased plastic bag diversion and reduction benchmarks.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. AB 2058 passed out of Sen. E.Q. committee June 23 with a 5-2 vote and is now headed to Sen. Approps. Previously, AB 2058 passed out of the Assembly with a 42-30 vote May 28, passed out of Assembly Appropriations May 22, and passed out of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee April 14 with a 5-3 vote.
Description.
AB 2058 aims to build upon the success of California's In-Store Plastic Bag Recycling Law (AB 2449 Levine 2006) by requiring retailers to meet a specified plastic bag diversion requirement. Plastic bag litter is a serious problem that kills thousands of sea birds every year. Cleanup of plastic bags costs local governments millions, especially in areas affected by US EPA zero maximum daily water load limits for trash. Under AB 2058, retailers would be required to demonstrate 70% diversion by July, 2011. If either goals are not met, retailers will be required to charge a 25 cent per bag fee, the proceeds of which are to be used for local litter clean-up. This approach has reduced plastic bag consumption in Ireland by over 90%. In order to assure the bill does not substitute one disposable bag for another, grocers will be required to distribute paper bags at an equal fee after 2011. AB 2058 also allows local governments to require additional fees. Special Note: AB 2058 has taken on elements of AB 2829 (Davis), which died in committee, and has added Assembly Members Davis and Brownley as co-authors and Los Angeles County as co-sponsor.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray and Bryan Early (916) 443-5422
Current Actions.
AB 2505 needs letters now for its Jun 23 Senate Environmental Quality Committee hearing. Letters should be addressed to the Chair, Senator Joe Simitian (fx: 916-322-3519), and c.c.'d to CAW and the author:
Assembly Member Lloyd Levine
State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Fax: 916-319-2140
Sample Group Support Letter
Individual Support Letter
Supporters.
Californians Against Waste (Sponsor)
County of Los Angeles (Sponsor)
Alameda County Waste Management Authority (Stopwaste)
Ballona Creek Renaissance
California Coastal Coalition
California League of Conservation Voters
ChicoBag
City and County of San Francisco Department of the Environment
city of Oakland
East Bay Municipal Utilities District
Heal the Bay
Marin County Board of Supervisors
Marin County Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Joint Powers Authority
Northern California Recycling Association
Planning and Convservation League
San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority
Sierra Club
Sonoma County Waste Management Agency
Surfrider Foundation
Oposition.
American Chemistry Council
California Grocers Association
California Retailers Association
Current Language, Analyses and Votes.
Additional Resources:
