The Seattle city council will vote this month on an ordinance that would put a 20 cent fee on paper and plastic bags.

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The ordinance would also ban foamed polystyrene takeout containers.

CAW and Plastic Bags:

• Learn about AB 2058, which would put a fee on plastic bags in California.

At a time when city after city are banning foamed polystyrene (commonly known as "Styrofoam") containers and the California Legislature is considering a bill that would phase out their use, one might think that corporate chains are shying away from the non-recycled plastic that takes such a toll on the environment as marine debris pollution. But Carol McAlice Currie of the Oregon Statesman Journal writes that styrofoam containers are actually making a comeback at big corporate chains:

Nearly 20 years after McDonald's stopped serving Big Macs in plastic foam containers, another generation of food purveyors — such as Jamba Juice, Sonic America's Drive-in and some stylish coffee places — is foisting hot and cold drinks on consumers in one-use, nonrecyclable foam cups.

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Adding the the irony is the fact that McDonalds--one of the first big chains to phase out polystyrene in the mid-80s--is once again pushing polystyrene in a big way with its new "gourmet" coffee line (though now the foamed polystyrene is cleverly covered by a paper wrapper).

CAW and Polystyrene:

• Learn More about AB 904.

SB 1625 (Corbett) proposes to expand California's Container Recycling Law to include all plastic bottles.  This first-in-the-nation expansion needs your support, as it is facing a tough battle on the Senate Floor this week.

Fax Support Letters Today>>

Media interest in plastic marine debris pollution has greatly increased in the past few weeks, with local efforts to ban plastics waste receiving international attention.  Yesterday, PBS's award-winning 4-part series "Strange Days on Planet Earth" took a vivid look at the North Pacific Gyre, a bigger-than-Texas patch of litter patch in the Pacific where plastic outweighs plankton. 

Also worthwhile, though a bit sensational (think:plastic bag manufacturers intentionally adding helium to their bags so they can build an island of plastic in the Pacific to develop)--check out this episode of the childrens' program, "Gorilla in the Greenhouse," online.

CAW and Marin Debris:

• Learn about a marine debris bills in the California Legislature this year, including AB 2058, AB 2505, and SB 1625.