Sunroom Desk » Environment California

Single-Use Bag Ban Passes California Assembly

Editor — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:49:38 +0000

AB 1998, which would prohibit stores from providing single-use carryout bags for customers beginning in 2012, was approved yesterday by the California Assembly with 41 votes, the minimum needed.

Environment California, a big backer of the bill, held five press conferences Tuesday and organized a phone campaign to assembly representatives on the fence. The campaign now moves on to the Senate.

According to the bill’s author, 41st District Representative Julia Brownley, Californians use over 19 billion plastic bags annually (approximately 552 per person), while only 5-6% of plastic materials are recycled in California.

Brownley’s website noted that:

The California Grocers Association and the United Food and Commercial Workers joined a long list of supporters of AB 1998 today, taking a sound, fair and effective approach to eliminating single-use bag litter, which pollutes oceans, beaches, parks and communities and endangers wildlife.

Petroleum products are fouling the oceans before they are refined and manufactured, and afterwards as well. The “disposable” consumer culture they foster needs to change, and this is a step in the right direction. Yesterday’s blog post on single-use bags has links to inspirations and ideas for reducing use of plastics.

Ban Both Bags!

Editor — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:06:13 +0000

Paper or plastic? Producing paper bags releases 2-3 times more greenhouse gas emissions than producing plastic bags, says SavethePlasticBag.com. The group also says charges of ocean pollution from plastic bag litter are exaggerated. Instead of arguing about plastic v. paper, why not ban them both and train consumers to bring their own bags when they shop?

Bag Monster has links to several news stories about AB 1998, the latest state bill aiming to reduce plastic bag use in the state. The blog’s tagline, “1 year, 500 bags,” is probably an understatement. On some errand days in the distant past, I came home with 30+ bags. Now I keep two cloth bags in the car and a collection of reusable bags for grocery trips right by the back door.

Concerned about the oil flowing into the Gulf of Mexico? Look for more ways to reduce our use of oil’s end products. Plastic bags may require less fuel to produce, but they are themselves a petroleum product. Support a ban of all single-use bags, use less plastic (here’s an inspiration), and bring your own packaging.

Under the Paperweight, November 8-14, 2009

Editor — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:10:46 +0000

Public transit and compact development policies reduce regional pollution levels, according to an analysis of just-released U.S. Dept of Energy data.

Too Much Pollution, Environment California’s report with some bad news for this state also delivered good news in its analysis of other states’ initiatives:

In contrast to the trend in California, more than one-third of the states succeeded in cutting pollution from 2004 to 2007.

…The initial success of these states shows that moving to clean energy can have a significant and immediate impact on overall emissions – and that emission reductions and robust economic growth can occur side by side.”

The report appeared just before the Gold Line extension debut in Los Angeles, and showed very positive results for public transit and compact development programs in two Northwest states:

Washington and Oregon are the only two states in the nation in which fewer vehicle-miles were traveled per person in 2007 than in 1990…Oregon has reduced its per capita carbon dioxide emissions from gasoline in cars by 14 percent since 1990, while Washington has reduced those emissions by 11 percent.

…Both states have used strong and consistent public policies to encourage the use of alternatives to vehicles and to promote patterns of development that reduce dependence on cars.

…Washington has encouraged employers to find ways to reduce the number of workers coming to work each day in single-occupancy vehicles. Oregon, meanwhile, has a track record of promoting “smart growth” policies…encouraging compact, mixed-use development where more tasks can be completed by bike, on foot, or via transit.

Greenhouse Gas Pollution Up 10% in California; Krekorian, Pavley Discuss Data and Solutions

Editor — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:06:20 +0000

Local Assembly Representative Paul Krekorian and State Senator Fran Pavley joined Environment California Thursday at UCLA to discuss just-released data showing greenhouse gas pollution in California up 10 percent. UCLA Institute of the Environment Director Dr. Glen MacDonald hosted the meeting.

Mike Kantor, Environment California, presents report findings. Other presenters (from left): Senator Fran Pavley, Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, Dr. Glen MacDonald

Environment California’s analysis of U.S. Department of Energy data show California carbon dioxide emissions up 10 percent from 1990 to 2007, placing it second nationwide for emissions. “More pollution than ever before is not a record we want to set,” said Mike Kantor, the policy group’s federal field organizer. On the positive side, the analysis showed that California ranks 45th in fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions per capita, reflecting the state’s high energy efficiency standards and programs that curb increases in energy consumption.

The state’s third year of record drought, population growth, energy use going for water treatment and transport, the rise in sea levels, the potential for salt water intrusion into freshwater supplies, and the growing number and devastation of wildfires all demonstrate the need for quick action, declared Senator Pavley, who chairs California’s Natural Resource and Water Committee. The cost of doing nothing to combat global warming is very high; she warned of declining property values, a loss of watershed, and high firefighting costs borne by local governments.

Assemblyman Krekorian said he would continue to press for the California Air Resources Board’s goal of getting 33 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable sources. Although upfront costs are high, “Once we establish a renewable energy infrastructure, the fuel is free.” AB 64, Krekorian’s bipartisan-supported bill with the most aggressive renewable energy standard in the world, was recently vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

Dr. MacDonald said he was glad to see the basic term pollution in Environment California’s report title. “Greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning – are serious pollution.” He stressed the usefulness of the new report for policymaking at state and federal levels, and thanked Pavley and Krekorian for their commitment to ending fossil fuel dependence and combating its adverse effects.

Upcoming posts will cover detailed findings in the report, along with background on Environment California and the Institute of the Environment.