AB 1290 (L. Rivas)

OVERVIEW:

AB 1290 would have eliminated several of the most problematic forms of plastics that contaminate recycling or pose a risk to human health, by prohibiting the use of PVC, PVDC, PET-G, or pigmented PET packaging, as well as prohibiting the addition of PFAS, carbon black, and oxo-degradable additives in plastic packaging

THE ISSUE:

These forms of plastic packaging create a barrier to achieving our state's recycling and toxicity goals, and many of the country's leading consumer brands have already committed to eliminating their use.

Read more about the harms these materials cause:

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – Nonrecyclable and extremely toxic at all stages of lifecycle.

Polyvinylidene Chloride (PVDC) – Nonrecyclable and extremely toxic at all stages of lifecycle.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) – Highly toxic and persistent chemicals.

Nondetectable Pigments (e.g., Carbon Black) – Nonrecyclable, can’t be identified by optical sorting equipment; carbon black is a carcinogen when inhaled, putting workers at risk.

Oxo-Degradable Additives – Fragments plastic into microplastics; nonrecyclable; impossible to clean up in the environment; both consists of and attaches to toxic chemicals; absorbed by people and animals.

PETG – Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol – Nonrecyclable, melts at higher temperature, gumming up machinery and contaminating otherwise recyclable batches of PET.

Opaque or pigmented PET Bottles – Difficult to recycle, no end market.

Position: Co-sponsored by Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Californians Against Waste, Clean Water Action & Natural Resources Defense Council
Contact: Nick Lapis & Nicole Kurian

Status: Dead. Not brought up for a vote in the Assembly prior to the house of origin deadline.

Current language, analysis, and votes:  AB 1290