California takes sweeping action to curb single-use plastic

California just took sweeping action to reduce single-use plastic pollution.

On June 30, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act into law. Spearheaded by state Sen. Ben Allen, the new law will reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in our environment by an estimated 23 million tons over 10 years. The law, which comes after years of advocacy by CALPIRG, CALPIRG Students, Environment California and dozens of other organizations, mandates significant reductions in single-use foodware and packaging, requiring that those items actually be recyclable or compostable, and holding producers financially responsible for the plastic they put into our communities.

“California will once again be a leader in tackling the global plastic waste crisis,” said Jenn Engstrom, state director of CALPIRG. “This bill is a monumental step forward and the culmination of more than four years of organizing and advocacy.

“We thank Sen. Ben Allen and Assemblymember Luz Rivas for their leadership and to the State Assembly and Senate for finally holding producers responsible for the plastic waste harming our communities and our environment.”

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