AWC and individual cities have been supporting two plastics proposals. SB 5323 bans single use plastic bags and SB 5397 lays the informational foundation upon which a product stewardship program for plastics could launch. Both bills have had hearings in the House and are scheduled to move quickly.

Here is a summary of the bag ban bill as passed by the Senate:

• Prohibits a retailer from providing a customer a single use plastic bag, a paper or reusable plastic bag that does not meet recycled content requirements.
• Requires a retailer to collect a pass-through charge of $0.08 for each recycled content large paper or plastic carryout bag provided.
• Preempts local carryout bag ordinances starting in 2020, except for ordinances establishing a $0.10 pass-through charge in effect as of January 1, 2019.
• Specifies recycled content requirements for paper and plastic bags.

We have not heard from any cities who are concerned about the consolidation of plastic bag policy at the state level. Please let us know if that is the case for your city.

Please consider contacting your legislators on the House Environment & Energy Committee about your support for the bill. The committee will also be voting on SB 5397, the plastic product stewardship study bill. The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously. To read more about this bill, see our previous article.

Dates to remember

SB 5323 and SB 5397 are scheduled for a committee vote in the House Environment & Energy Committee on Tuesday, March 26 at 3:30 pm.

SB 5323 is also scheduled for a hearing in the House Finance Committee at 8 am on Friday, March 29.