News

Update: Plastic bag ban fails in California

September 1, 2010

The Associated Press reports that California lawmakers have rejected Senate bill AB 1998, which would have banned the use of plastic shopping bags in retail stores.

The bill's chief opponent, the American Chemistry Council, spent millions lobbying against the ban, according to the report.

In a statement published on its website, the ACC's tone was jubilant.

The Bill, AB 1998, threatened 1,000 well-paying manufacturing jobs for hard-working Californians, placed a hidden tax on grocery bills and created a $4 million new-state bureaucracy.  

“We congratulate Senate members for discarding a costly bill that provides no real solutions to California’s litter problem and would have further jeopardized California’s already strained economy,” said Tim Shestek, senior director of State Affairs for the American Chemistry Council,  a trade association based in Arlington, Va.

“Plastic bag makers look forward to working with grocers, legislators and environmental groups to develop workable, effective legislation that enables consumer choice, promotes recycling education and encourages a healthy environment and economy,” Shestek said.