California Senate Bill SB915 Latest Draft

 BILL NUMBER: SB 915AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 25, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Senator Calderon FEBRUARY 18, 2011 An act  to add Section 42254.5 to the Public Resources Code,  relating to recycling. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 915, as amended, Calderon. Recycling: plastic bags. Existing law requires an operator of a store, as defined, to establish an at-store recycling program that provides to customers the opportunity to return clean plastic carryout bags to that store. This requirement is repealed on January 1, 2013. Existing law prohibits a city, county, or other local public agency from taking specified regulatory actions with regard to the recycling of plastic carryout bags. This bill would  declare the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation to require a reduction in plastic bag use, establish a mandatory level of recycled content in plastic bags according to a specified schedule, increase funding for recycling education, establish incentives for consumers to return or recycle plastic bags, suspend local plastic bag ordinances, and prohibit local governments from taking certain actions regarding plastic bags   require plastic bag use to be reduced by an unspecified percent by an unspecified year. The bill also would establish a mandatory level of recycled content in plastic bags according to a specified schedule. The bill would require the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to establish a working group of stakeholders to develop strategies for increasing the recycling of plastic bags and develop suggestions for funding increased consumer awareness  . Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 42254.5 is added to the   Public Resources Code   , to read:   42254.5. (a) Plastic bag use shall be reduced by ____ percent by year _____. (b) Plastic bags shall contain a mandatory level of recycled content, according to the following schedule: (1) Twenty percent by 2013, of which 15 percent would be postindustrial content and 5 percent postconsumer content. (2) Twenty-five percent by 2014, of which 18 percent would be postindustrial content and 7 percent postconsumer content. (3) Thirty percent by 2015, of which 20 percent would be postindustrial content and 10 percent postconsumer content. (c) The department shall establish a working group of stakeholders to develop strategies for increasing the recycling of plastic bags and to develop suggestions for potential funding for increased consumer awareness.   SECTION 1.   The Legislature hereby finds and declares its intention to enact subsequent legislation that would do all of the following: (a) Require a reduction in plastic bag use by a given deadline. (b) Establish a mandatory level of recycled content in plastic bags, according the following schedule: (1) Twenty percent by year one, of which 15 percent would be postindustrial content and 5 percent postconsumer content. (2) Twenty-five percent by year two, of which 18 percent would be postindustrial content and 7 percent postconsumer content. (3) Thirty percent by year three, of which 20 percent would be postindustrial content and 10 percent postconsumer content. (4) An end goal of a specified percentage. (c) Increase funding for recycling education. (d) Establish incentives for consumers to return or recycle plastic bags. (e) Suspend local plastic bag ordinances. (f) Prohibit local governments from enacting plastic bag bans or fees on plastic bags.