Proposition 67: Upholding the ban on single-use plastic carryout bags in California
The issue: California became the first state in the nation in 2014 to enact plastic bag ban legislation through SB 270, which prohibits grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies from distributing single-use plastic bags, and requires stores to charge a minimum of 10 cents for paper bags. The plastics industry has spent more than $6 million to overturn this law, delaying its implementation for two years by placing this item on the November ballot.
The stakes: Designed for minutes of use, plastic bags do not break down in the environment and pose a threat to aquatic life. Scientists project that by 2050 plastic pollution will outweigh fish in our oceans. Light-weight plastic bags also create unsightly litter. California spends up to $107 million a year managing plastic bag litter.
Our recommendation: Vote YES on Prop 67!
Proposition 65: A rival measure to Prop 67, funded by Big Plastic
The issue: Prop 65 will deliver little for the environment. It was placed on the ballot by out-of-state plastic bag companies who keep interfering with California’s efforts to reduce plastic pollution. Prop 65 is designed to distract from the environmental priority of defending the state’s plastic bag ban. All Prop 65 would do is direct money from the sale of paper bags to a vaguely defined environmental fund administered by the state.
The stakes: The sole purpose of Prop 65 is to confuse voters; its passage would distract from phasing out plastic bags entirely. Prop 65 also fuels the tired paper vs. plastic debate. The real issue is reducing the overall use of single-use bags, whether paper or plastic.
Our recommendation: Vote NO on Prop 65
Many thanks to Heal the Bay, http://www.healthebay.org/, for the notes above
More from Californians Against Waste
Photos: Otter in bag, Californians Against Waste, www.cawrecycles.org
Plastc bag on beach (home page) by Sara Bayles, www.dailyocean.org