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Assembly passes bag fee legislation
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More from Local NewsSACRAMENTO — Supermarket shoppers in California would be charged a quarter a bag beginning in July 2011 if the store at which they shop doesn't meet plastic bag-recycling goals, under a bill approved Wednesday by the Assembly.
The 25-cent fee would be levied on both plastic and paper bags. It would apply only to large grocery stores and pharmacies.
Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, the author of the proposed law, said the system would create in California the most aggressive plastic bag reduction program in the nation.
The bill, which now goes to the Senate, passed the Assembly on a 40 vote, with only majority Democrats in support.
The fee is proposed as a follow-up to legislation passed in 2006 that required supermarkets and pharmacies to provide in-store recycling bins for plastic bags. The intent now is to create a financial incentive for stores to aggressively promote recycling and a reduction in the number of bags they issue to customers.
Levine estimates Californians use more than 19 billion plastic bags a year, 552 per person. The state Integrated Waste Management Board estimates no more than 6 percent are recycled.
Because of their light weight and large surface area, empty bags are easily lifted by the wind and create litter problems that plague streets, waterways and, ultimately, the ocean. Studies of seawater off the coasts of Long Beach and San Francisco have shown the mass of plastics exceeds the mass of plankton in beds where sea mammals feed.
Opponents criticized the proposal as a tax on consumers that would do nothing to alleviate the core problems created by the bags.
"The problem is that people need to stop littering," said Assemblyman Rick Keene, R-Chico. "That's the behavior we need to go after."
Levine said the bill, AB2058, is designed to encourage recycling and bag-reduction programs so the fee will never kick in. He noted when Ireland adopted a 30-cent fee on bags, usage dropped by 90 percent as shoppers began to regularly bring cloth bags to stores to avoid paying the fee.
"It's not a tax, it's an avoidable fee that helps mitigate a serious problem in California," he said.
He noted consumers are already, in effect, paying for the bags.
"Californians already spend $450 million on plastic bags," Levine said. "It's just included in the cost of groceries."
To avoid having to implement the fee, stores would have to demonstrate that by the end of 2010 they have reduced the number of plastic bags destined for landfills by 70 percent. The reduction can be achieved either through recycling or through programs that reduce the number of bags issued to customers, such as promoting the use of reusable cloth bags.
The reduction level can be met either by an individual store or collectively by a chain of stores.
Any store that does not meet the reduction goal and ultimately does charge fees would be required to use the money it collects to pay for litter-reduction and recycling programs, in consultation with local government agencies.
Posted by goldeneye on May 29, 2008 at 6:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think Democrats have nothing better to do than to mess with business and interfere with every aspect of our lives.
Posted by kingkong on May 29, 2008 at 7:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We should take one of those bags for every Legislator and stick it on his or her head.
Posted by Nosmo_King on May 29, 2008 at 7:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
" It's not a tax..." Dumbocrat Levine said..
Posted by mohadib on May 29, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is asinine. Don't the Democrats have more important issues to deal with like a State budget deficit. What a waste of time and taxpayer dollars. Oh I forgot, they're not worried about the budget. According to them all we need to do is raise taxes on the "wealthy". Problem solved.
Posted by shaver_one on May 29, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If we stop using plastic bags AND paper bags, what are we supposed to use for our garbage? The city says we must bag our garbage before putting it in the trash bins. What are we supposed to use? Oh...we can buy a box of plastic bags at the store. Or will they decide that those bags should not be used, either?
Posted by InaHurry on May 29, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Will we be charged for paper bags as well?
Posted by whatsup805 on May 29, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey MOHADIB...did you know under Arnold the pay for state workers has increased? When Gray Davis was in office there was only a few people earning $200,000. NOW we have over 1,500 state workers making $200k+ and he has hired more workers and tens of thousands more earning six figure incomes. If we have 15 THOUSAND workers, and the average pay is lets say $100 THOUSAND...THATS 1.5 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
I use those PLASTIC bags for my trash, kitchen and restroom. Those bags are multi-purpose in my house,BTW, in other homes they buy the nice scented ones, they don't recycle or return them to the store.
Instead of bashing the Dems for trying to protect the environment try returning the bags to the store.
Posted by mohadib on May 29, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey whatsup805. Nice try, changing the argument from a waste of our legislature's time to an attack on Arnold. Which, by-the-way, I agree with you on. That's one place we can cut 1.5 billion...roll back those pay increases. My point is simply this...Democrats control the legislature and the purse strings. They should be looking at ways to stimulate the economy and cut wasteful programs to balance the budget. And raising taxes, even just on the rich, during a economic downturn will only worsen our economy. Additionally, there should be greater enforcement of the laws that govern our social programs so that only those who are truly entitled to the help receive it. The others should be prosecuted for fraud.
There are other more important issues than a regressive tax on people for using plastic bags.
Posted by whatsup805 on May 29, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Mohadib..FYI i'm not a Dem or Repub..I try to go with what ever candidate has a better plan/view of the issues. The Dems took control recently if i recall. I agree with you that in a time of trying to balance the budget elected officials should recind their pay raise until we get in the black.
I agree with you....
Posted by N_Cash on May 29, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
God almighty I am so sick of finger-wagging Mrs. Kravitz busybodies like Lloyd Levine telling me what I can and cannot do. I recycle every plastic bag I get -- they are perfect for picking up dog crap. And speaking of dog crap, thank heavens this idiot Levine is termed out or we'd be getting even more of his nonsense.
Posted by UncleRico on May 29, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"I think Democrats have nothing better to do than to mess with business..."
Translation: Why can't we just let businesses do what they darn well please irrespective of consequences and then foist resposibility for cleaning up after them onto the tax-paying public?
Posted by sslocal on May 29, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is it that when Dems propose a new law it takes away some small piece of our freedom?
Posted by Nosmo_King on May 29, 2008 at 5:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
whatsup805, Grey Davis agreed to sweeeeeet union agrements that have kicked in while Arnold is in office. The dems think money grows on trees, and to a certain extent so does Arnold...or at least his wife does...
Posted by imp9824 on May 29, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Democrats don't take away freedoms.
What are typically the two hot-button topics that separate Democrats and Republicans? Gay marriage and abortion. Democrats are generally in favor of letting the couple choose to get married or choose abortion. Republicans are the ones trying to take away options from people. Need another example? What about a flag-burning amendment? The idea of a Republican; Democrats are in favor of having options.
Posted by wegsaw on May 29, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Interesting.
Posted by smithjc on May 29, 2008 at 9:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i always recycle the star. it's perfect for training puppies, wrapping fish and lining birdcages.
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