California State Senate passed SB 270 with a 22-15 vote to ban single-use plastic grocery bags.
Environmental groups and local government advocates have overcome fierce lobbying by single-use bag manufacturers, intensified in the last few months of session, to reach this point. Senate Bill 270 by Senators Padilla, de León and Lara, passed off the California State Assembly Floor on a 45-31 vote, after falling 3 votes short of passage earlier.
The bill now advances to the Governor’s desk for a signature.
SB 270 prohibits grocery stores, drugstores and convenience stores from distributing single-use plastic bags, and went into effect first in large grocery stores in July of 2015. Stores can sell paper, durable reusable bags and compostable bags with a minimum charge of $.10 each. The $.10 charge is to encourage consumers to bring their own reusable bags.
Published in the October 2014 Edition of American Recycler News
