Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Los Angeles County Bans the Bag!
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday to ban single-use plastic bags and put a 10 cent fee on single-use paper bags in the Los Angeles County area. The ban will specifically affect supermarkets and pharmacies in the County's unincorporated areas, which still affect over 1 million people. That makes this ban the largest municipal effort to date!
Julia Brownley, the author of the recently-failed statewide legislation (AB 1998), was on hand to give testimony as to why this bill is important for the environment, for our oceans, for the natural aesthetics of our neighborhoods, and for fiscally-responsible communities to avoid clean-up and litter abatement costs. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky echoed these comments, stating that it is time to "be part of the solution, not part of the pollution." He also thanked the County Counsel for their outstanding background work in analyzing the environmental and fiscal impacts of the ordinance. Both Yaroslavsky and Chairwoman Gloria Molina expressed the hope that the rest of the state of California will take notice of this bag ban and work to implement similar ordinances in their areas.
The final ordinance was approved by County Supervisors Molina, Yaroslavsky, and Ridley-Thomas with an objection by Antonovich. Supervisor Don Kanabe was absent, but was able to suggest a friendly-amendment to the bill to allow all reusable bags which can be cleaned or disinfected. This amendment was added to create more jobs in the LA area by reusable bag manufacturers. There was also an amendment to conform the wording of the bill to AB 1998 standards to protect from lead contamination, in addition to the Prop 65 standards which are already in place.
Overall, it was a good day for Surfrider activists in LA and California who work to Rise Above Plastics!
Julia Brownley, the author of the recently-failed statewide legislation (AB 1998), was on hand to give testimony as to why this bill is important for the environment, for our oceans, for the natural aesthetics of our neighborhoods, and for fiscally-responsible communities to avoid clean-up and litter abatement costs. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky echoed these comments, stating that it is time to "be part of the solution, not part of the pollution." He also thanked the County Counsel for their outstanding background work in analyzing the environmental and fiscal impacts of the ordinance. Both Yaroslavsky and Chairwoman Gloria Molina expressed the hope that the rest of the state of California will take notice of this bag ban and work to implement similar ordinances in their areas.
The final ordinance was approved by County Supervisors Molina, Yaroslavsky, and Ridley-Thomas with an objection by Antonovich. Supervisor Don Kanabe was absent, but was able to suggest a friendly-amendment to the bill to allow all reusable bags which can be cleaned or disinfected. This amendment was added to create more jobs in the LA area by reusable bag manufacturers. There was also an amendment to conform the wording of the bill to AB 1998 standards to protect from lead contamination, in addition to the Prop 65 standards which are already in place.
Overall, it was a good day for Surfrider activists in LA and California who work to Rise Above Plastics!
Labels: plastic bags, RAP
Monday, April 26, 2010
BAN the BAG through California Legislation
Many of California's cities have been trying to regulate plastic bag consumption for years, recognizing that something must be done about the flimsy petroleum-based product that is difficult to recycle and all too often ends up as a littered eyesore.
Due to the outcry of our Chapters to address the issue of plastic pollution on our oceans and beaches, Surfrider Foundation has been working to support statewide legislation to Ban the Bag. Right now, Assembly Bill 1998 (Brownley) is being assessed by our legislature. The bill would ban all single-use carryout plastic bags, limit the distribution of paper bags, and require reusable bags to be available for purchase. This is the most progressive effort of any other state in the nation!
To find out more and take action, check out this action alert from Heal the Bay and Environment California, our partner organizations for addressing plastic pollution.
Labels: plastic bags, RAP
Friday, March 5, 2010
New Bill to Ban Plastic Bags in California
Assembly Bill 1998 will reduce dangerous plastic bag litter pollution by banning plastic bags at large retail outlets and charging a 25 cent "green bag fee" for any paper bag purchases. The money from the fee will go to the Paper Bag Pollution Clean Up Fund, which provides for reusable bag giveaway programs.
Plastic bags are a primary component of ocean litter. Over one million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals die each year from ingestion or entanglement in plastics. This is why on World Oceans Day 2009, the Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme called for an outright ban on thin-film plastic bags worldwide. The plastic litter problem is also costing our state tens of millions of dollars in litter clean up and abatement costs each year.
To read more in a OpEd from Assemblymember Julia Brownley and Enviroment California, click here.
Labels: plastic bags, RAP
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
California Stemming the Tide of Plastics to our Oceans
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ABC News recently did a special report following Algalita Marine Research Foundation's work on plastics in our ocean and in our fish and marine life. While the report mentions that coastal communities are addressing the problem by trying to prevent plastics and litter from entering our oceans, waves and beaches, it does not mention the statewide efforts that are underway in Hawaii, Oregon, DC, Florida and elsewhere. Here in California, the following bills have been proposed:
- SB 4 Cigarette Butt Ban on our Beaches and Parks
- AB 925 Leash your Lid to prevent bottle caps from entering waterways
- Stemming the Tide of Plastic Bags (through a fee or ban)
- Polystyrene Ban for take out ware
- Extended Producer Responsibility ("EPR")
Surfrider Foundation is working directly to support these initiatives and with the help of other organizations in the Clean Seas Coalition to make our voices heard in the State Capitol and to our local representatives.
Labels: cigarette butt, EPR, marine debris, plastic bags, RAP
Monday, July 28, 2008
OPC rises above plastics
In a report to be release next week, the Ocean Protection Council advocates banning plastic foam cups and plastic bags, items that often end up in coastal waters and on beaches.
Read the LA Times Story....
Labels: OPC, plastics, plastics bags, RAP, styrofoam
