Sacramento, Calif. — California companies that sell shampoo, food, and other products wrapped with plastic have a decade left to reduce their use of this polluting material.
Major legislation was passed and signed into law by Governor. Gavin Newsom signed major legislation on Thursday. It aims to reduce single-use plastic packaging and dramatically increase recycling rates. The legislation sets the nation’s strictest requirements for plastic packaging use, and lawmakers say they hope it will set a precedent for other states.
Before voting on the bill, Sen. Bob Hertzberg (a Democrat) stated that “we’re ruining this planet”
“California will not tolerate plastic waste that is filling our waterways, making it harder for us to breathe. According to Agence France Presse, Newsom signed the law after he had held the polluters accountable and cut plastics at their source.
According to AFP, The Nature Conservancy, an environmental non-profit group, called it the “most comprehensive plastic waste reduction legislation” in the country.
Plastic producers will have to reduce single-use plastic packaging by 10% by 2027 and increase that number to 25% by 2032. This can be achieved by reducing the size of plastic packaging, switching to another material, or making the product easily reuseable or refillable. Plastic would also have to be recycled at a rate that is 65% by 2032. This is a significant increase from current rates. Plastic beverage bottles would not be eligible for this rule, as they have their own recycling regulations.
For years, efforts to limit plastic packaging in the Legislature have been unsuccessful. However, the threat of a similar referendum being introduced to voters in November motivated business groups to join the negotiations table. After the bill was passed, the three main supporters withdrew the measure from the ballot. However, they expressed concern that the plastics industry would try to weaken the requirements.
States have banned single-use plastic grocery bags, straws, and other items. Soon, plastic water bottles will be prohibited in national parks. Plastic is still used for everything, from soap bottles and laundry detergent to packaging for vegetables and lunch meats. Plastic products are almost never recycled in the United States. Millions of tons end up in landfills around the globe. It is harmful to wildlife and can be found in our drinking water as microplastics.
Amy Wolfram, California ocean policy senior manger at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, stated that marine animals, from crabs and whales, are inhaling plastics that end up in the ocean. She called the bill “fantastic” and said it was a great start to address a serious problem.
The state’s recycling department would approve the formation of a separate industry group by plastic makers. This group would be responsible for developing a plan to meet these requirements. They will be required to collect $500,000,000 annually from producers in order to fund a fund that addresses plastic pollution. Similar producer responsibility systems are in place in Colorado, Maine, and Oregon.
The ballot measure does not ban styrofoam packaging, but it would require that 30% of the food packaging be recycled by 2028. Some supporters claimed this is a de facto ban since the material cannot be recycled. The ballot measure would have prohibited the material completely. It would have given the state recycling agency more power to enforce the rules than to industry to organize themselves.
Santa Monica Democrat Sen. Ben Allen led negotiations for the bill. He said that it was an example of two often opposed groups – industry and environmentalists – coming together to create positive change.
He described it as a “strong, meaningful compromise” that would put California in the forefront of solving a major global issue.
Although they withdrew the ballot initiative, its proponents stated that they are still concerned about the possibility of industry trying to lower the bill. Linda Escalante, of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Michael Sangiacomo (ex-head of Recology’s waste management division), and Caryl Hart (a member of California Coastal Commission) were the initiative’s backers.
Joshua Baca, representing the plastics industry at the American Chemistry Council, stated that the bill unfairly limits the amount of post-consumer plastic that can be used for the 25% reduction and limits “new, innovative” recycling technologies.
Although the bill prohibits the incineration or combustion of plastic, it leaves some options for chemical recycling.
Beyond Plastics president Judith Enck said that while California’s bill does more than any other state to reduce plastic pollution, it still falls far short. It will result in a reduction of about 10% in overall packaging, as producers have the option to make their products refillable or switch materials. It also relies too heavily upon failed plastics recycling programs, she said.
She stated that plastic production globally is expected to triple by 2050.
