<Put on your letterhead and personalize. C.c. CAW (916-443-3912) and Assembly Member Levine (916-319-2140).>

<Today's Date>

Speaker Pro Tem Don Perata
California State Senate
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: 916-327-1997

RE: AB 2769 (Levine-Brownley-Davis) Offsetting the Costs of Carryout Bag Litter: Support

Dear Speaker Pro Tem Perata:

<Organization / Individual> is in support of Assembly Bill 2769 by Lloyd Levine, Julia Brownley and Mike Davis, which proposes to reduce costly and harmful carryout bag litter and incentivize the use of reusable bags by requiring retailers to charge for carryout bags.

Bag litter is a dangerous, costly and growing problem. Californians use an estimated 14 billion plastic bags annually, far too many of which are littered. Plastic bags have historically suffered from low recycling rates. Even when properly disposed of, plastic bags are often blown from receptacles and become litter. Because plastic bags are so lightweight and aerodynamic, they are quickly transported into the watershed.

Plastic bag litter is responsible for the deaths of thousands of birds, marine mammals, and endangered sea turtles which mistake them for food. Plastic bags essentially never biodegrade; instead they slowly photodegrade, attracting ambient toxins as they break into smaller pieces and overwhelming the local plankton food chain. In some of the worst affected areas of the Pacific, there is already 46 times more plastic than plankton by weight.

Local governments are incurring significant costs attempting to deal with plastic film litter. This is especially true of Southern California communities with impaired waterways that are required by US EPA Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for trash to reduce litter. One study conducted by San Francisco concluded that every plastic bag costs the city over 20 cents in hidden cleanup expenses.

Because of the costs and environmental dangers associated with plastic bags, San Francisco, Los Angeles City and County, Oakland , Malibu, Huntington Beach, and Fairfax have all passed ordinances requiring bans or benchmarks for plastic bags.  Dozens of other municipalities are currently considering similar measures.

AB 2769 would require extended producer responsibility for plastic bags by requiring retailers to charge a fee for all carryout bags. Proceeds from the funds will be used to purchase reusable bags and will go to fight carryout bag litter at the local level.  AB 2769 will create a state-wide solution to the growing problem of carryout bags.  We respectfully urge your 'Aye' vote when AB 2769 is heard on the Senate Floor.

Sincerely,

<Signed>
<Name and Title>