Recycling Bill Bottled Up in Closing Hours of California Legislative Session

By Mark Murray
Executive Director
Californians Against Waste

The most expansive recycling law in the nation threatens to get left behind in the final 48 hours of the legislature. SB 1625 (Corbett) will expand the scope of the Container Recycling Law to include most non-food plastic bottles and close loopholes for certain other container types.

SB 1625 will eliminate costs to local governments and provide curbside and other recycling programs with a sustainable revenue source to reduce litter and waste and increase recycling. Less than 15% of plastic bottles targeted for expansion are currently recycled and the disposal of these bottles costs local governments and ratepayers in excess of $32 million annually. Plastic containers are a major source of plastic marine debris pollution.

SB 1625 is awaiting an Assembly Floor vote. Previously, the bill passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee August 7, passed out of the Assembly Natural Resources June 16, and passed off the Senate Floor May 29.

SB 1625 aims to significantly reduce the amount of plastic litter pollution entering our marine environment by expanding the scope of California's successful Bottle and Can Recycling Law to include more plastic bottles.

Plastic marine debris pollution is a serious and growing problem, the source of which is right here on land. Up to 80% of marine debris pollution consists of plastic from urban litter. Containers under California's Bottle and Can Recycling Law are littered less than other plastic items because they have a redemption value.

However, because plastics are the fastest growing component of the waste stream, only about 50% of plastic bottles are currently covered by California's Bottle and Can Recycling Law. Expanding the program to include more plastic bottles will significantly reduce plastic litter pollution

This important recycling measure deserves a vote in the Assembly and should be released from Rules Committee.

For more information, visit our page on SB 1625.

Mark Murray is the Executive Director of the environmental group Californians Against Waste (CAW). He lobbies for CAW and is recognized as one of the environmental communities leading experts on waste prevention and recycling policies. CAW has been actively involved in the development, negotiation and passage of virtually every piece of waste reduction and recycling legislation enacted in California.

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