Pass the California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act!

_{Updated 9/1/2020}

The legislative session ended at midnight on August 31, 2020, and the bills were really close to passing, but unfortunately just narrowly missed the mark. AB 1080 passed the Senate but did not make it back for Assembly concurrence in time, while SB 54 fell shy by four Assembly votes.

SB54 and AB1080 known as the California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act is an unprecedented effort that would set goals to reduce waste from single-use packaging and products and ensure the remaining items are effectively reusable or recycled and composted. The Surfrider Foundation is in support and has been working closely with a strong group of allies in the state advocating for these comprehensive bills. 

Bill Summary: Eliminating non-reusable, non-recyclable, and non-compostable products and reducing packaging is by far the most effective, and least expensive way to protect the health of people, wildlife, and the environment. Many reliable and reusable alternatives already exist and the positive results of their use have been proven. In response, SB 54 and AB 1080 would:

• Require all single-use plastic packaging and products sold or distributed in California be reduced or recycled by 75 percent by 2030.

• Further, require all single-use packaging and products must be recyclable or compostable on and after 2030.

• Instruct CalRecycle to develop incentives and policies to encourage in-state manufacturing using recycled material generated in California.

Contact your legislators and urge them to support SB54/AB1080 the California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act!