Cali Assembly committee considers 25 cent plastic bag fee

Forget to bring your own bag? That eco-sin could cost you a quarter in the future (unless you go for paper, not plastic). A California Assembly bill, if passed, would put a 25 cent "plastic carryout bag impact fee" on each single-use plastic shopping bag given out at large grocery stores and pharmacies statewide.

AB 2829, introduced by Assemblymember Mike Davis (D-Los Angeles), proposes using the collected fees to on litter prevention and reduction efforts. If passed, the bill "would mark the most aggressive action by any state legislature to curb the proliferation of plastic bags and limit their negative impacts on the marine environment, local economies and quality of life for millions of citizens," according to Santa Monica-based environmental organization Heal the Bay.

AB 2829 does have some competition, namely from a much weaker bill, AB 2058, introduced by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys). AB 2058 relies mostly on voluntary reduction measures -- and is quite similar to the voluntary plastic bag reduction measure that the L.A. County Board of Supervisors passed earlier this year.

Surprisingly, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors have endorsed the tougher AB 2829. Perhaps the board regrets its past decision -- or perhaps they'd like someone else to enact the rules so they don't have to personally face the wrath of the plastic bag industry....

The bill goes before the Cali Assembly's Committee on Natural Resources on Monday. Is your assemblymember on it? Mine is, and will be hearing from me asking her to vote yes. You can also email a letter of support to the committee members via Heal the Bay.

Photo courtesy of envirowoman

Comments

[Vectorpedia (Rick)]

I agree with the 25 cent impact fee for plastic bags although I would like to see a 50 cent fee.......lets get serious about saving our natural resources.

[jrb]

The fee is a good idea.

They should also pay some kind of bounty for collecting them.

[SurferGirl]

What's happened with the vote???

I agree 25 cents is a great deterrent.

What about recycling centers or markets PAYING 1 cent for people to turn them in, (much like we used to collect glass bottles when we were kids to get candy money)??

[yuridia]

i agree that it's good for our natures resources but what about big families that go to the grocery stores and buy a lot of groceries?.. I think we already have enough to deal with in gas prices and now we're going to have to worry about paying extra for a plastic bag? I think it's the wrong timing to do this.. So it should be dealt with later we really don't need this right now.

[Lisa]

Thanks for the info. I just called my State Senator, Mark Ridley-Thomas.