Meet Bob the Plastic Bag
Hi, I'm Bob, California's new plastic bag
Compared to the plastic bags you use now, I…
• am made to look like a natural cloth material, but I am actually just plastic
• am made for just pennies, but I cost 10 times more at the store
• produce a lot more greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to make
• can’t be recycled. On average, you’ll only use me 2 to 3 times before I end up in the landfill
Statements from ARPBA
American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance Shares Comments in Opposition to SB 1053
"Chair and esteemed members of the Environmental Quality Committee,
"Thank you for the opportunity to address you today regarding Senate Bill 1053. My name is Phil Rozenski, and I serve as the Interim Director of the American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance (ARPBA).
"The ARPBA represents manufacturers and recyclers of film plastic retail bags, including members with operations in California. I am here on their behalf to express our opposition to this proposed legislation.
"The ARPBA shares the goal of SB 1053 – protecting and improving the environment. But let me be clear: this bill will not reduce plastic. It will merely shift Californians to other plastic bags that result in significantly more plastic consumption.
"After a substantially similar bill passed in New Jersey, that is exactly what happened. The ban of traditional plastic bags resulted in the state adopting nonwoven polypropylene bags as the new option, which led to a 300% increase in plastic consumption and a 500% rise in greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, studies have shown that on average these nonwoven polypropylene bags are only used two to three times before being discarded. They are simply not used the number of times needed for them to be more environmentally beneficial.
"Current law requires today’s plastic film bags to contain 40% certified post-consumer recycled content. According to CalRecycle data, these bags divert 183 million pounds of plastic from landfills every year to support their manufacturing. In contrast, non-woven polypropylene bags rarely contain any recycled content and are not recyclable in California.
"If SB 1053 passes, the thick, recyclable plastic reusable bags currently mandated by the state would cease to exist. Passing this bill would likely trigger increased plastic use, eliminate the use of 183 million pounds of recycled content in California each year, exacerbate our carbon footprint, move jobs out of California, and significantly raise costs for working families.
"I can't emphasize enough that this bill is structured not to reduce plastic but to substitute one form of plastic for another. While we urge you to vote against it, we invite collaboration to create a more effective solution.
"Thank you for your attention and consideration."
CONTACT:
Beth A. Miller
bmiller@millerpagroup.com
(916)551-1383
CA Legislation to Ban Recyclable Plastic Bags
(February 8th, 2024) - The American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance (ARPBA) issued the following statement regarding the introduction of AB 2236 and SB 1053, legislation to ban recyclable plastic bags within California, by calling for a more collaborative approach to policymaking that prioritizes sustainability:
“ARPBA shares the goal of this legislation to advance public policy in California that protects the environment. The state deserves a policy that not only curtails unnecessary plastic usage but also promotes increased recycling and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, reflecting the values championed when SB 270 was passed by California voters in 2016. To that end, we find ourselves opposed to this legislation in its current form.
“As proposed, this legislation diverts Californians from using recyclable and reusable plastic bags towards non-recyclable alternatives. These alternatives, manufactured with 15 times more plastic, are mostly imported from Asia, resulting in higher costs for consumers at the checkout. While the policy would ban and make existing recyclable and reusable bags go away, the proposed alternatives have been shown to exacerbate the environmental impact, accelerating the challenges the bill was designed to address.
“For example, a recent study in New Jersey, with a similar reusable bag policy, found that reusable bags now average only 2-3 uses, resulting in a 300% increase in net plastic usage from bags and a 500% rise in greenhouse gas emissions. The truth is that consumer preference for home delivery and store pickup options for groceries has led to a decline in bag reuse, requiring stores to provide new bags for each transaction. These changing shopping habits have led consumers to accumulate hundreds of reusable bags annually, most of which end up in landfills. Thus, the importance of having a recyclable option and advancing recycling infrastructure cannot be overstated.
“Proponents of this legislation highlight the low recycling rate of plastic bags in California. Current research and recent consumer surveys reveal that 50-60% of these bags are repurposed as trash bags, driven by the cost-effectiveness established by SB 270 in terms of strength, size, and price compared to traditional household trash bags. Data finds that lower-income families find these bags economically advantageous, saving them money when opting out of purchasing regular trash bags.
“While it is accurate that only a small percentage of recyclable reusable plastic bags in California are recycled, it is not due to a lack of willingness on the part of Californians to recycle these bags. Rather, the bags have become a popular choice for use as trash bags due to their utility. CalRecycle waste characterization studies further support this trend, showing a nearly doubled volume of retail bags as Californians repurpose them for trash disposal. Concurrently, the tonnage of purchased plastic trash bags entering landfills decreased significantly.
“In the weeks ahead, ARPBA welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with the bill’s authors to deliver legislation that leads to truly sustainable outcomes, for the benefit of California’s consumers and its environment.”
CONTACT:
Beth A. Miller
bmiller@millerpagroup.com
(916)551-1383
Resources
"Bob the Plastic Bag", inspired by bag laws that actually increased plastic use in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and other states, was created as a part of ARPBA's educational efforts to highlight the shortcomings of AB 2236 and SB 1053. Below are several articles that spotlight the shortcomings of the mandates proposed in this legislation and how similar legislation adversely affected plastic consumption.
The Baltimore Sun
Plastic bag bans are supposed to reduce plastic use, but they do the opposite
(Feb 28, 2024) Here’s a common scenario you might have encountered: You’re at the grocery store, your cart filled with items, only to discover at the checkout counter that they either charge for bags, or they don’t provide them.
READ MOREUSA Today
Plastic bag bans have spread across the country. Sometimes they backfire.
(Feb 17, 2024) The idea is simple: Reduce plastic waste by requiring shoppers to bring their own reusable bags.
The reality is messy. Plastic bag bans have spread across the nation, but some data suggests that switching to more durable, multi-use bags creates some new problems – and in some cases, means more, not less, plastic being used.
The New York Times
Why Do Some People in New Jersey Suddenly Have Bags and Bags of Bags?
(Sep 1, 2022 ) A ban on single-use plastic and paper bags in grocery stores had an unintended effect: Delivery services switched to heavy, reusable sacks- lots of them...
The mountains of bags are an unintended consequence of New Jersey's strict new bag ban in supermarkets. It went into effect in May and prohibits not only plastic bags but paper bags as well.READ MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
If passed, AB 2236 and SB 1053 will ban recyclable film plastic bags in California. These companion bills are modeled on legislation from other states that have increased plastic use and greenhouse gases and failed to reduce single-use behavior. Get the facts about these proposed plastic bags below.
What types of bags are currently allowed under current California law?
California has a single-use carryout bag ban, SB 270. Customers cannot receive single-use plastic carryout bags from most grocery stores, retail stores with a pharmacy, convenience stores, food marts, and liquor stores. Instead, these stores provide reusable film plastic bags made with recycled content or recycled paper bags for a fee of 10-cents or more per bag. Current law requires film bags to contain 40% certified post-consumer recycled content.
Are the bags allowed under current California law recyclable?
Yes. Film plastic bags are recycled at many retailers throughout the state. In December 2023, ARPBA surveyed consumer behavior under California’s current law. While most film bags end up in a landfill, it’s because they’re used as trash bags. In fact, the survey found that 60% of consumers reuse film plastic bags as an affordable alternative to traditional trash bags because the law mandates that they be three times thicker.
What are California’s AB 2236/ SB 1053 bags made from?
Plastic. Due to its low cost, most of these alternative bags will be made with polypropylene, which under California SB 343, is designated as a non-recyclable product.
How many times does the average consumer reuse the bags outlined in AB 2236 / SB 1053?
A recent study examining a similar reusable bag policy in New Jersey found that reusable bags now average only 2-3 uses. The study also shows that following New Jersey’s ban on single-use bags, the shift from plastic film to alternative bags resulted in a nearly 3x increase in plastic consumption for bags. At the same time, 6x more woven and non-woven polypropylene plastic was consumed to produce the reusable bags sold to consumers as an alternative. This shift in material also resulted in a notable environmental impact, with the increased consumption of polypropylene bags contributing to a 500% increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to non-woven polypropylene bag production in 2015.
While not covered in the Freedonia study, similar legislation in Connecticut, Delaware, and New York, which outlawed film recyclable bags while allowing retailers to offer paper bags, saw similar spikes in emissions and landfills.How much will consumers be charged for the reusable bags described in California’s AB2236/SB1053?
Based on the implementation of similar bills in other states, consumers can expect to be charged between $1 and $2 per reusable bag. This is over 10x the cost to produce these bags. As a result, lower-income Californians will be the most impacted.