The Yes on SB 270 Coalition celebrated the 22-15 victory in the California Senate late Friday night for SB 270, a landmark measure that will make California the first state to ban single-use plastic carryout bags if signed by the governor.
“This is a monumental night for California. With tonight’s vote, California is on the cusp of making history,” said Ronald Fong, President and CEO, California Grocers Association. “SB 270 will foster innovation, create homegrown jobs, safeguard businesses and protect California’s natural resources. We are grateful to Sens. Padilla, de León and Lara for bravely standing up for California.”
SB 270 (Padilla, de León, Lara) has been supported by dozens of groups representing a spectrum of sectors, including environment, organized labor, business organizations, grocers, retailers, poverty rights organizations, Latino leaders, waste management firms, local governments and others.
“We are thankful that our elected leaders saw through the tactics employed by out-of-state plastic companies seeking to block this measure, and stood up to special interests who do not have Californians’ best interest in mind. If Gov. Jerry Brown signs this bill into law, as we hope he will, we are confident we will see a seismic shift in consumer habits and a whole new crop of innovators and home-grown job creators in our state,” Fong said.
More than 100 cities and counties in California, including our largest metropolitan areas, have enacted bans on single-use carryout plastic bags. SB 270 will bring uniformity to California, while further reducing the use of plastic bags that litter streets, clog waterways, endanger animals and natural resources and cost taxpayers.
SB 270 ensures that those on food assistance programs are not subject to the 10-cent charge and that monies generated from the 10-cent charge stay local to be used for cost recovery and consumer education on reusable bag use.