Today the California State Senate voted against Senate Bill 405, a ban on 100 percent recyclable plastic bags and a tax on paper bags.
The following is a statement from Mark Daniels, chairman of the American Progressive Bag Alliance, an organization representing the United States' plastic bag manufacturing and recycling sector, which employs 30,800 people in 349 communities across the nation, including approximately 2,000 in California:
"Today's vote signals the facts have prevailed in this debate. A ban on 100 percent recyclable plastic bags would hurt the environment and threaten jobs. The American Progressive Bag Alliance works hard to protect American jobs in the plastic bag manufacturing and recycling industry - including 2,000 in California - and our organization has repeatedly called for an honest debate on this issue. We thank the members of the California Senate who rejected this misguided policy prescription based on unfounded stats, junk science and myths, and we hope lawmakers will continue to make responsible decisions on behalf of California's environment and economy."