Take Action to Conserve Resources, Prevent Pollution, and Protect the Environment. Right from your computer, right now! CAW makes it easy for you to take action on any of the critical issues below. Send emails to top decision-makers when they need to hear from you.
Urgent Actions
AB 1998 (Brownley) - Plastic Bag Ban
Summary.
AB 1998 reduces plastic litter pollution and increases reusable bag use by banning plastic bags at grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores and similar stores.
Position and Status.
Press Release: AB 1998 Fails Passage. CAW Supports. The bill failed to pass off the Senate Floor, recieving a 14-21 vote Aug 31. Previously, the bill was voted out of Senate Appropriations Committee with a 7-3 vote Aug 31, passed out of Senate Environmental Quality Committee on June 28 with a 5-2 vote, passed off the Assembly Floor on Jun 2 with a 42-27 vote, passed out of Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 28 with a 11-5 vote, passed out of assembly Natural Resources Committee on April 12 and was introduced Feb 18.
AB 2398 (John Perez) - Carpet Product Stewardship
Summary: Requires producers of carpet to participate in a product stewardship program, under a plan approved by CalRecycle. This bill now has the support of the recyclers, carpet manufacturers, local governments, and environmental groups.
Position and Status. CAW supports. This bill passed the legislature and is now headed to the Governor. It previously passed the policy and fiscal committees in the Assembly and Senate.
Take ACTION! Send a support letter for AB 2398
Other Current Actions
AB 2138 (Chesbro) Plastic Ocean Pollution Reduction, Recycling and Composting Act
Summary.
Requires food providers to use only recyclable or compostable takeoutfood packaging and bags.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. AB 2138 was held in Assembly Appropriations committee. Previously, the bill passed Assembly Natural Resources Committee April 12 and was introduced February 18.
Description.
Single-use packaging is a primary source of urban litter and oceanic litter pollution, according to storm drain and beach cleanup studies. Polystyrene, plastic bags and other non-recyclable packaging have a high propensity to be littered because they are light and aerodynamic and are consumed away from home. Up to 80% of ocean pollution is litter from urban runoff, and non-recyclable single-use food packaging is a primary component of urban litter. Single-use food packaging litter kills wildlife such as birds and endangered sea turtles that become entangled or mistake it for food. More than 1 million sea birds, 100,000 marine mammals, and countless fish die from ingesting or becoming entangled in marine debris.
The volume of nonrecycled single-use food packaging distributed annually in California is staggering: the fast food sector alone generates 4 million tons of waste annually in California and retailers are currently distributing almost 14 billion plastic bags annually.
SB 920 (Yee) - Phone Book Opt-Out
Summary. SB 920 will help reduce waste and consumer utility costs while conserving resources and protecting the environment by making it easier for consumers to opt-out of receiving unwanted directories.
Position and Status. CAW Supports. SB 920 died on the senate floor, with a 12-18 vote. It previously passed Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee 4/20/10 and passed Senate Appropriations with 6-4 vote.
City of Berkeley Proposes Plastic Bag Ban / Paper Bag Fee
The City of Berkeley has proposed an ordinance that would encourage reusable bag use by banning plastic bags and requiring retailers to collect a $0.25 fee on paper bags.
