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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from Senator Padilla regarding SB 405 which would phase out single-use plastic bags in California hilifornia State ".matt 513;';: ALEX PADILLA SENATOR, 20TH DISTRICT { ' [ .:. p SEN e e BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IC tacit! OCT 042013 October 2,2013 OROVILLE,GAMMA Honorable Steve Lambert Supervisor,District 4 Butte County Board of Supervisors 25 County Center Dr Ste 200 Oroville, CA 95965-3365 Dear Colleague, I respectfully ask for your support of Senate Bill 405 which would phase out single-use plastic bags in California. Each year in California,more than 13 billion single-use plastic bags are handed out by retailers. CalRecycle reports that only 3%of single-use plastic bags are actually recycled. The other 97%litter our streams,rivers and coastline,and endanger birds,marine life and wildlife. Plastic bags remain one of the top items found during annual beach cleanups. Plastic bags also contribute to blight in our communities and clog local storm water systems.Because plastic bags take 1,000 years to degrade,their impacts are compounded every year. California local governments spend more than $25 million each year to collect and bury plastic bag waste. And the plastic bags that do enter our recycling centers slow the sorting process and jam machinery. Earlier this year,I introduced SB 405. This bill would enact a statewide phase out of single-use plastic bags in California. This legislation is supported by a broad coalition that includes grocers,environmentalists and many local governments. Despite strong support, SB 405 fell 3 votes short of passage this year. I remain committed to this effort,but I need your help. SB 405 will face another vote early next year. Between now and then,I am respectfully asking you to put your county on record in support of SB 405. The City of Los Angeles took this step in June of this year and joined 80 other California cities and counties who support the phase out of single-use plastic bags in their communities. Please join me in this effort. Attached,please find a sample resolution in support of SB 405,a copy of the bill, and a fact sheet with additional information. I look forward to working with you so that single-use plastic bags are soon phased out in our state. Thank you for your time and consideration. Please feel free to contact me at(916)651-4020 if you have any questions or need additional information. Sincerely, ALEX PADILLA State Senator, 20th District CAP OL OFFICE: STATE CAPITOL, ROOM 4038•SACRAME CA 95814•TEL(916)651-4020• FAX(916)324-6645 D TRICT12,216: 6150 VAN NUYS 0..SUITE 400• NUYS,CA 91401 •TEL(818)901-5588•FAX(818)901-5562 /L RO . OlD , Va (%tl ygclf c�kc- RESOLUTION WHEREAS, each year in California more than 13 billion single-use plastic bags are handed out by retailers and only 3% of these bags are recycled; and WHEREAS,plastic bags cause slow sorting and jam machinery at recycling centers costing California more than$25 million dollars each year to collect and bury the plastic bag waste; and WHEREAS, according to a study commissioned by the US Marine Debris Monitoring Program, plastic bags remain one of the top items found consistently during annual beach cleanups; and WHEREAS, The Convention on Biological Diversity reports a total of 663 species have been affected by plastic marine pollution through entanglement or ingestion; and WHEREAS,the United States Environmental Protection Agency finds that reducing the use of an item is one of the most effective ways to save our natural resources and protect the environment; and WHEREAS, a third of Californians are subject to laws phasing out the use of single-use plastic bags; and WHEREAS, State Senator Padilla has authored SB 405, which would prohibit grocery stores and large retailers from providing single-use bags to customers in 2015, and would expand that prohibition to convenience stores and food marts in 2016; and WHEREAS, by prohibiting the free distribution of plastic bags, SB 405 would help eliminate a major source of pollution in California; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, with the concurrence of the Mayor,that by the adoption of this Resolution, the hereby SUPPORTS Senate Bill 405 (Padilla) that would prohibit grocery stores, large retailers, convenience stores, and food marts from providing free single-use plastic bags to consumers, and require those stores to have reusable bags available for purchase. PRESENTED BY SECONDED BY Green Vets Los Angeles GreenWaste Recovery Heal the Bay Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Humboldt Waste Management Authority LMV Productions Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Los Angeles County Integrated Waste Management Task Force Napa Valley CanDo Environment Group National Hispanic Environmental Council Natural Resources Defense Council Pacifica's Environmental Family Planning and Conservation League Plasticbaglaws.org Republic Services Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Save Our Shores Seventh Generation Advisors Sierra Club California Surfrider Foundation Team Marine— Santa Monica High School The Northern California Recycling Association Turtle Island Restoration Network United Food & Commercial Workers Western States Council William C. Velazquez Institute Zanker Road Resource Management FOR MORE INFORMATION—Contact Angela Manetti,Office of Senator Alex Padilla(916)651-4020 s 1e^ t `1 i-���'s V? '' 11 `�s s�"',u",�F1 :;., {,�'✓ z 1 i "` �t a'� L `� ��i v#f �* � 2 ��,Nq� '£� `s��£# tn `'�J4�� 1?2 ✓r� i " tip" ! C� 1 9 0' 1S3 SeiatOr9Ie*Pa �az4a � Ti ; 3 . a �. s ySV `i` 1 111 1� '" L �, 1A � � a. sh,iy *sof ..4'144,1/2an'IW,4141kageWseta`€),M4a-lhAtt , ti ranateitir4krielftreNSOtinnaa "- a i7€Plll tt _ ..: ft If i SB 405 - PADILLA Single-Use Bag Phase Out (as amended 05/24/13) Summary Plastics not only entangle marine life, they are also ingested by marine life and birds. Most plastic SB 405 would phase out single-use plastic bags in marine debris exists as small plastic particles due California grocery stores, convenience stores, to excessive UV radiation exposure and liquor stores, and pharmacies. subsequent photo-degradation. The Convention on Biological Diversity reports a total of 663 species have been affected by plastic marine Background pollution through entanglement or ingestion. Each year in California, more than 13 billion The California Coastal Commission reports that single-use plastic bags are handed out by retailers. "birds, fish and mammals often mistake plastic for food. Some birds even feed it to their young. With According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 88% of plastic bags and sacks plastic filling their stomachs, animals have a false are not recycled. In California, only 3% are feeling of being full, and may die of starvation. recycled, according to CalRecycle. Plastic bags Sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, one of cause litter, slow sorting and jam machinery at their favorite foods. Even grey whales have been recycling centers costing California more than $25 found dead with plastic bags and sheeting in their million dollars each year to collect and bury the stomachs." plastic bag waste. According to a study The Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC commissioned by the US Marine Debris San Diego found evidence of plastic waste in more Monitoring Program, plastic bags remain one of than 9% of the stomachs of fish collected in the the top items found consistently during annual North Pacific Subtropical Gyre and estimate that beach cleanups. fish who reside in the intermediate ocean depths ingest 12,000- to 24,000 tons of plastic per year. Plastic bags are also harmful to the environment killing thousands of birds, turtles and other According to the United States Environmental species. Most plastics do not degrade. Although Protection Agency, reducing the use of an item is they represent only 2.2% of waste stream in one of the most effective ways to save our natural California, plastic waste is the predominate form resources and protect the environment. To date, of marine debris. Plastics are estimated to many local jurisdictions in California have enacted compose 60-80% of all marine debris and 90% of ordinances. The ordinances vary with some all floating debris worldwide. requiring a charge for paper carry-out bags and others banning both single-use plastic and paper FOR MORE INFORMATION—Contact Angela Manetti,Office of Senator Alex Padilla(916)651-4020 carryout bags. These ordinances have both • allows ordinances adopted prior to September eliminated the costs associated with plastic bags as 1, 2013 to continue to be enforced. (§42287 well as substantially reduced the volume and costs associated with paper bags in communities. • prohibits any local agency from enforcing an For example, San Francisco, Los Angeles County, ordinance related to single-use carryout bags g San Jose, and San Luis Obispo County are already after January 1, 2014. 042287 (b)) experiencing the benefits of reducing the use of plastic bags. After just one year of • allows local agencies to only amend the cost implementation of its bag ordinance, the City of associated with the recyclable paper bag for San Jose is reporting 50% cleaner creeks. Los existing ordinances 042287 (c)) Angeles County is reporting a 95% reduction of all single-use bags distributed, including a 30% • authorizes the California Department of reduction of paper bags. Resources, Recycling, and Recovery to inspect and audit a reusable bag producer. (§42282 Existing Law (a)). Section 42254 and 42257 of the Public Resources Code requires large grocery stores to establish a Support plastic bag recycling program and sunsets on January 1, 2020. 5 Gyres Institute Azul Current California law is silent on the reduction of Baglt single-use plastic bags. Board of Supervisers California Coastkeeper Alliance California Coastal Coalition This Bill California Resource Recovery Association California State Lands Commission This bill would: Californians Against Waste Central Contra Costa County Solid Waste • prohibit a store, on and after January 1, 2015, Authority from providing a single-use carryout bag (i.e., City of El Cerrito paper, plastic, or other material) to a customer City of Long Beach at the point-of-sale. (§42283(a)) City of Palo Alto City of Sacramento • authorize a store, on and after July 1, 2016, to City and County of San Francisco provide a reusable grocery bag (i.e., cloth or City of Sunnyvale durable plastic) to a customer, which may be City of San Francisco made available for purchase. (§42283(c)(1)). Clean Water Action Clean Water California • authorize a store to make a recyclable paper Contra Costa Clean Water Program bag available for purchase at the point of sale. County of Los Angeles (§42283(d)). County of San Mateo Environment California • specifies standards for reusable grocery bags. Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of (§4228l) Commerce Green Sangha FOR MORE INFORMATION—Contact Angela Manetti,Office of Senator Alex Padilla(916)651-4020