Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
March 11, 2009
4. Water Quality-
Lawmakers again seek to ban foam food containers, unattached bottle caps
The North County
By Dave Downey
Four bills that aim to slash the amount of plastic waste headed for the
It's all part of what has become a perennial campaign by state lawmakers and environmental activists to target the plastic that accounts for an estimated two-thirds of all trash in the ocean and 90 percent of its floating debris ---- and poses a serious threat to marine life.
Typically, a trickle of the introduced legislation becomes law. And the unsuccessful bills either get discarded or recycled into new bills.
Two of this year's bills ---- the ones that address plastic bags and foam containers ---- are repackaged legislation from the last couple of years.
At the same time, Assemblywoman Lori Saldana, D-San Diego, is trying to build on the 1970s success story of replacing the dangerous, sharp-edged, aluminum-can pull tab with one that remains attached to the beverage can. She said it is time to attach the plastic bottle to its lid.
"It may not be a hazard to people, but it definitely has a serious impact on marine life ---- birds and mammals," Saldana said of the caps, in a telephone interview Tuesday.
Scientists say sea birds often mistake the brightly colored caps for food and eat them.
A fourth bill, one that is more general in nature, would trigger state regulations calling on manufacturers to design plastic products so they are easily recycled.
Conservationists praised the legislation, while conservative politicians raised concerns about the bills.
Danielle Miller, outreach director for the environmental group San Diego Coastkeeper and coordinator of
Miller noted that Californians are doing a good job recycling plastic bottles, because of the cash they get when they turn bottles in.
"But people are not bringing the bottle caps in with them," Miller said. As a result, she said, caps are among the top five items of litter on the beach.
Miller said volunteers also find a lot of plastic grocery bags.
"Obviously, litter is a major problem in a lot of our cities and counties," said Mike Zimmerman, chief of staff for Assemblyman Martin Garrick, R-Carlsbad.
But Zimmerman said Garrick has reservations about the bills, which would pass new costs on to businesses and consumers in difficult economic times, and not necessarily change people's behavior.
Before charging consumers a quarter per bag at the grocery store, said Encinitas Councilman Jerome Stocks, the state ought to roll out a public awareness campaign about the environmental dangers of plastic bags.
Stocks said the state ought to borrow a page out of the handbook of regional water officials, whom he says have been largely effective in getting restaurants to not serve water unless people ask for a glass. Similarly, he said, grocers could stop bagging groceries unless requested to do so.
Encinitas Mayor Maggie Houlihan said she doesn't think a fee will stop people from tossing plastic bags; what's needed is a ban, she said. A divided Encinitas City Council asked its staff in September to look into a potential local ban and is waiting for that analysis.
Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, D-Santa Monica, sponsor of the plastic-bag bill, said results elsewhere suggest a fee would in fact make a difference.
"When
The bills are:
-- Assembly Bill 68, by Brownley. It would mandate that stores charge a quarter for each disposable plastic bag customers request, starting on July 1, 2010.
-- Assembly Bill 925, by Saldana. It would bar retailers from selling beverages in plastic containers without attached caps, starting on Jan. 1, 2012.
-- Assembly Bill 1358, by Assembly members Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, and Pedro Nava, D-Santa Barbara. It would bar restaurants from selling food in foam containers. The bill contains no start date, but Hill's staff says it likely would be within a couple of years.
-- Assembly Bill 283, by Assemblyman Wes Chesbro, D-Arcata. It would ask the California Integrated Waste Management Board to draw up, by July 1, 2011, regulations requiring plastic manufacturers to design products to be recycled.#
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