On June 14, 2019, news provider The Revelator published an article by Tara Lohan on two identical California bills aiming at reducing plastic pollution. The California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (bill SB 54), introduced by Senator Ben Allen, was passed by the California Senate on May 29, 2019. One day later, bill AB 1080 was introduced by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez and the California’s assembly also passed this identical legislation. Both bills now have to clear opposite houses of their origin before being allowed at a floor vote by September 13, 2019. Only then they can earn the governor’s signature.
The new legislation focusses on producer responsibility and requests reducing the amount of single-use plastics going to landfills by 75 percent by the year 2030. Proposed measures to reach this aim include reducing use or improving the recyclability or compostability of disposable plastics. A requirement to make single-use plastics recyclable or compostable would apply to the ten products that are most frequently littered in California.
Tara Lohan (June 14, 2019). “New California Bill Could Revolutionize How the U.S. Tackles Plastic Pollution.” The Revelator
Dustin Gardiner (June 12, 2019). “California takes on an ocean of plastic waste, considers crackdown on industry.” San Francisco Chronicle
GMA blog (July 8, 2019). “If California is about to define the future of packaging sustainability, will it get it right?”
California Legislative Information (May 22, 2019). “SB-54 California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act.”
California Legislative Information (May 22, 2019). “AB-1080 California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act.”