The money behind the pro-plastic bag lobby

Why'd the environmentalists lose the plastic bag fight yesterday, with business interests successfully lowering plastic bag reduction goals by 5%? L.A. Times follows the money in an article today: Jean-Paul Renaud reports that the California Grocers Assn. -- one of the main groups pushing for lower standards -- hired and paid lobbying firm Rose & Kindel more than $33,000 by December.

I wish Heal the Bay had more money. The nonprofit got lots of people to wear "Ban the Bag" buttons and rally the hearing yesterday but still lost out to CGA's powerful lobby. Why is it that we enviros are always so cash-poor! :P

Mark Gold, president of Heal the Bay, weighed in on the supervisors' final decision on the plastic bag in a comment on my last post: "Bottom line, (no surprise here), a majority of the Board chose to back the plastics manufacturers and the Grocers Association over environmental protection."

There is, however, good news too. While big bad grocery chains still remain plastic-addicted, Whole Foods is banishing the plastic bag from all its stores, with the goal to be plastic bag-free by Earth Day, April 22. The stores will still offer recycled paper bags -- as well as sell reusable bags. One type is made of 80% recycled plastic bottles and costs just 99 cents.

Plus, the fight to ban the bag continues in individual cities. More on that soon. In the meantime, bring your own bag!

In related news: Santa Monica's ban on foam plastic (a.k.a. Styrofoam) and other non-recyclable take-out containers goes into effect Feb. 9. Noticed changes at your favorite Santa Monica restaurant? One local blogger notes California Chicken Cafe made the switch to biodegradables -- but wasn't particularly happy about it.

L.A. County as a whole is supposed to be looking into a foam container ban too. According to the L.A. Times, the ban was proposed in May 2007, but a study on the issue is still pending. And guess what -- the Plastic Food Service Packaging Group's hired Rose & Kindel too: "Through September 2007, county records show that the company had spent $65,500 trying to influence the county's policy."

Photo courtesy of envirowoman

Comments

[graham primus]

For those of you interested, here's the some info for Rose and Kindel. I'd suggest we let them know how we feel about their lobbying stance with a phone call or note:
http://www.rosekindel.com/whoweare.shtml

[Roger, Gone Green]

Two nights ago, a City of Pasadena Environmental Advisory Commission subcommittee had an update on the status of a plastic bag ban in that city.

The lawsuit by the bag industry against the City of Oakland is set for Hearing January 29; sometime thereafter there should be an initial ruling on whether a bag ban requires an Environmental Impact Report, a costly endeavor that could sidetrack individual city bans. That issue will need to have some resolution before most agencies will act to ban bags for now.

The Sub-Committee also received information on potential state legislation to re-allow a tax or fee on plastic bags. (Current law does not allow individual cities to tax bags or charge a fee, but the bags can be banned outright.)

When the Sub-Committee was given an update on the County action, Environmental Commissioner Gray (me!) called it "cowardly."

Meanwhile, the Sub-Committee will be recommending that the Environmental Commission as a whole begin taking testimony from residents, scientists, and business people on the issue to help it decide whether or not to recommend a ban for Pasadena. That testimony is likely to begin in March.

After the meeting, I was introduced to a representative from Vons who had attended the meeting. He did seem to see the writing on the wall for plastic (otherwise the 75% reduction within one year in the county law would not even be thinkable) but nevertheless resisted the idea that the four Vons stores in Pasadena should try a local experiment and go plastic-bag free . . . .

Folks interested in this issue might want to write or email Vons directly, encouraging them to take a leadership role on the issue rather than an obstructionist one . . . and stay tuned for opportunities to testify in Pasadena (esp. local residents, workers and businesses).

[Siel]

Unfortunately Rose and Kindel doesn't seem like the company that would give a damn about how people feel --

Thanks for the update, Roger -- and let us know what happens! Are you gonna join the Walkabout? (Now postponed to 3/1)

[Beth Terry]

Oakland City Councilmembers Nancy Nadel, District 3 and Jean Quan, District 4 will be holding a press conference on the steps of City Hall this Monday, January 28, at 10 AM and request Oakland bag ban supporters to show up with canvas bags in hand. I'll be there. I've posted the full press release on my web site:

http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/2008/01/extra-extra-locals-needed-at-oakland.html

Unlike L.A., Oakland city council DID pass an actual ban, and now the plastics industry is challenging it in court. Without politicians' sympathies to buy, what can the plastics industry's money do for them in this case?