As of late, in the United States, there has been a lot of activity on the single-use plastic bag ban front. To be honest, when California passed their state-wide ban we thought things might slow down since California cities and municipalities were really dominating the news when it came to passing bag bans, but we are happy to announce that we were wrong!
Mayor Denis Coderre recently approached the City Council with a proposal to ban single-use plastic bags in retail stores throughout Montreal. This notion of a bag ban was spurred by California’s recent state-wide ban, although Montreal has proven to be very environmentally minded because many residents already bring their own reusable grocery bags when heading to the store.
It is really great news for the environment that California passed a statewide single-use plastic bag ban and we’re still so excited. This is such a big step and will have a massive impact (for the better!) on the environment. California Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 270 but California is facing some opposition. Still, as of right now, the ban is set to go into effect starting next July, but there are some disposable plastic bag manufacturers looking to repeal this law. We are optimistic that the California bag ban will hold up and we’re also interested to see who follows California’s lead and that got us thinking about which state could be next to enact a disposable plastic bag ban.
When Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 270 on September 30, 2014 it was the culmination of a lot of hard work by many, many people and a milestone in the bag ban movement. California has long been the center of disposable plastic bag bans, but this statewide law is the first of its kind and marks a new chapter in the effort to reduce single-use plastic bags and the resulting negative impacts.
“This bill is a step in the right direction — it reduces the torrent of plastic polluting our beaches, parks and even the vast ocean itself,” Brown said in a signing statement. “We’re the first to ban these bags, and we won’t be the last.”
Still, there is opposition led by the plastic bag manufacturers…
It isn’t hard to miss that one of the most influential activists in the bag ban movement, Activist Abby, is only 14. It also isn’t hard to miss is that her work has sparked not only debate and resulting bag ban initiatives, but she has been an inspiration to not only kids, but adults and politicians throughout the country and I would go so far as to stay, the world as well. She was even an inspiration to us here at Factory Direct Promos (FDP) as her work pushed us to create our bag ban map!
The California state-wide disposable plastic bag ban known as SB 270, will alter business in the state if the governor signs it into law on September 30. The law aims to ban disposable plastic bags in supermarkets and drug stores starting on July 1, 2015, and will apply to smaller grocery stores and convenience stores beginning July 1, 2016. The ban will impact grocery, drug and convenience stores the most since these establishments will have to comply with the ban by having paper or reusable grocery shopping bags available.
SB 270 has cleared several hurdles and is on the verge of becoming law. The proposed bill which last week seemed to be in jeopardy of not passing and is the handiwork of Senators Alex Padilla, Kevin de Leon and Ricardo Lara passed both houses and now all that remains for this disposable plastic bag ban to become official is a signature from the Governor, Jerry Brown which needs to happen by September 30.
Over 100 cities and counties in California have switched to paper and reusable shopping bags due to laws banning single-use plastic bags. There has been much talk and a whole lot of work to pass a state-wide ban and with all of the disposable plastic bag bans popping up in California a state-wide ban makes a lot of sense. A law that covers the entire state would fill the gaps and create one set of rules for everyone – this would potentially eliminate hassle and confusion for shoppers and do wonders to streamline the waste stream and reduce the negative environmental impact of plastic trash.
As usual there is a strong California presence in our latest news on bag bans in the U.S., but we an also report that there are other cities working to ban single-use plastic bags and reduce the harm caused by these environmental nuisances. Read on to get your update and learn more about the latest news on bag bans in the U.S.
As disposable plastic bag bans gain momentum across the United States this causes a dialog around the advantages and disadvantages of single-use plastic shopping bags. These bags have been a staple at stores of all types and sizes for years, so by this point, we have a good idea of the true impact of disposable plastic grocery bags. Below we’ve outlined the pros and cons of plastic grocery bags.
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There is a growing trend around the world to ban single-use plastic bags. In Africa, Asia and Europe, these bans are typically implemented at a country wide level, but similar measures are gaining in popularity in the United States. However, State side these bag bans are applied at a city or county level. The world is a diverse place, and yet it seems that banning single-use plastic bags is a commonality – something that people from drastically different cultures can agree on and see value in. I have broken down why disposable plastic bags are being banned across the world.
There have been a lot of developments in the movement to ban single-use plastic bags – some have been success stories and others are still works in progress, but here is an update on bag bans across the U.S.
Pinterest is a great collection of information and ideas and we can easily fill hours searching and pinning, but we had to pause when we found TerraCycle’s page and all of their great boards. There is a lot of information and we love their ecological facts – we love them so much that we wanted to share these 5 eco facts that will blow your mind.
It is with great excitement that we tell you that the President today banned single use plastic bags from the United States! The announcement was made earlier today at a press conference and according to the President this ban will ‘set the United States on a path towards sustainability.’ The disposable bag ban is set to go into action on July 1, 2014 and will prohibit the distribution of single-use plastic bags at grocery and big box stores. Paper bags will be available for a 5-cent fee. Stores will keep the paper bag fee as it is intended to cover the expense stores incur when purchasing paper bags. Individuals on public assistance programs will be exempt from the fee.
California is in the news again as another proposed law is aiming to ban plastic bags from supermarkets across the state. In the proposed bill, which is a collaboration between Senators Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) and Ricardo Lara (D-Long Beach), not only would single-use plastic bags be banned, but stores would be allowed to charge 10 cents for every recyclable bag shoppers need.
Disposable bag bans are great for the environment since they prevent litter and the damaging effects discarded single-use plastic bags can have on ecosystems and municipalities alike. Another benefit of disposable bag bans is the boost they give to businesses as they make the switch to reusable grocery bags and shopping bags. This is a great chance for you to create a customized reusable bag that will help your customers out by filling their need for a reusable bag while also spreading the word about your brand.
Last June a ban on single-use plastic bags was passed in Los Angeles. Starting January 1, 2014 single-use plastic bags were banned from stores that sell perishable foods and make at least $2 million in gross annual sales or occupy at least 10,000 square feet of retail space within the City of Los Angeles. The ordinance also levies a 10-cent fee on paper bags and will extend to smaller stores on July 1, 2014. Stores that do not comply with the ban will be fined to encourage participation. The ban does not cover stores that do not carry groceries, such as department stores.
We covered so much ground in 2013 and we learned a lot about a wide range of eco topics and new ways to go green. Most importantly is going reusable with you grocery bags and shopping bags. To wrap things up for the year here are five stories that received the greatest page views and feature some of our top green content for 2013.
It turns out good things do not come to those who wait. For the folks in Mississauga, Ontario, one year after being directed to study the impact of a disposable plastic bag ban, the waste management committee ruled against implementing a ban. Reasons cited for not banning disposable plastic bags ranged from loss of single use plastic bag manufacturing jobs and possible legal troubles which was the case when nearby Toronto attempted to pass a ban. There is no talk of revisiting this issue although disposable plastic bag use is in check in Mississauga due to public outreach efforts and a 5-cent fee levied on single use bags.