Senator Alex Padilla (Pacoima), Senator Kevin de León (Los Angeles) and Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Huntington Park/Long Beach) were joined by environmental groups and business leaders to announce a new, coauthored bill to phase out single-use plastic grocery bags statewide.
SB 270 (Padilla and de León) would ban single-use plastic grocery bags in grocery stores by July of 2015, and expand to cover other markets, convenience stores, and drug stores one year later. Similar to the local ordinances that have banned single-use plastic grocery bags, recycled paper and reusable bags would still be available for purchase (10 cents minimum). It will not pre-empt local ordinances already in place.
Previous efforts to enact a statewide policy on single-use plastic grocery bags (also referred to in the industry as plastic “T-shirt” bags) were stalled due to concerns over the impact of the phase out on jobs at the state’s two remaining plastic grocery bag manufacturers. This measure addresses the jobs issue by establishing financial incentives and green manufacturing standards to promote the use and in-state manufacturing of a new generation of reusable bags with the smallest environmental footprint.
SB 270 is pending in the Assembly Labor Committee and expected to move forward to the House for review.
Make sure to keep checking our website for updates on single use bag legislation that is pending or being implemented. Our retail packaging specialists stay on top of the ever changing market conditions. Let us help you navigate bag legislation in the municipalities you sell into and select the best packaging for your stores. We hope that you will contact us by phone at 888-429-5673 or via email at baglaws@swalter.com.