Statewide ban on single-use plastic bags takes effect in California

LOS ANGELES (Scrap Monster): The state of California has turned out to be the first state in the country to impose ban on use of single-use plastic grocery bags. A recent referendum had rendered its verdict to uphold the ban proposed by Californian lawmakers in 2014 through a Senate Bill. Meantime, another proposal to redirect the money collected on sale of carry-out bags to a special fund has been turned down by a huge margin.

The Proposition 67, banning stores from providing disposable plastic bags won 52% votes in favor. The Senate Bill 270 was proposed by Sen. Alex Padilla, approved and signed into law in 2014. However, efforts by plastics industry organizations led by the American Progressive Bag Alliance (APBA) had managed to garner enough signatures to force a statewide referendum. As per reports, the industry spent almost $6.1 million to overturn the law. However, the bill was backed strongly by various environmental organizations including Environment California, Californians Against Waste, the California Retailers Association, and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).

Effective this week, the use of single-use plastic shopping bags at check-out counters at grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores and liquor shops are banned. The paper, reusable and compostable bags will be charged 10 cents fee, so as to encourage residents to bring their own reusable bags when they come for shopping. Meantime, the ban does not apply to non-food retail units such as clothing and electronics and for produce and meat taken out from grocery stores.

According to Mark Murray, executive director of Californians Against Waste, the affirmative public vote on the policy would send a strong message across the country. The public verdict is expected to embolden other states such as New York, Massachusetts and Washington, where proposals to ban use of plastic bags are currently under consideration.

On the other hand, APBA officials noted that Californians have not given a resounding affirmation as the bill was upheld only by a thin margin. However, Phil Rozenski, policy chair of the industry body noted that industry is obliged to comply with what the majority of voters have decided. He expressed fears that the ban would backfire as shoppers will be forced to pay for thicker, reusable plastic bags. Also, other industry groups- Hilex Poly and Formosa Plastics too have opposed the ban, stating that it will have little impact on reducing overall environmental pollution, but at the same time may impose unnecessary tax on low-income shoppers.

Meantime, voters have rejected Proposition 65, which states that the money raised by the statewide ban must be directed to a special fund administered by the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Fund (EPEF) under the California Wildlife Conservation Board.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are consumed in the US every year. The US retailers, on an average, use nearly 100 billion plastic shopping bags per year. Also, four out of five grocery bags in the country are now plastic. Incidentally, plastic bags are one among the most common items of debris found in coastal cleanups.