http://sd20.senate.ca.gov/news/2014-09-30-governor-jerry-brown-signs-landmark-plastic-bag-ban-california-approves-first-statew

GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN SIGNS LANDMARK PLASTIC BAG BAN-CALIFORNIA APPROVES
FIRST STATEWIDE BAN ON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS

September 30, 2014

Sacramento ? Governor Jerry Brown today signed into law Senate Bill 270
which will phase out single-use plastic bags in the state of California.
The bill was joint authored by Senators Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), Kevin
de Leon (D-Los Angeles) and Ricardo Lara (D-Huntington Park/Long Beach).
The bill goes into effect on January 1, 2015.

?I applaud Governor Brown for signing SB 270 into law. He continues to
lead our state forward with a commitment to sustainability,? Senator
Padilla said. ?A throw-away society is not sustainable. This new law
will greatly reduce the flow of billions of single-use plastic bags that
litter our communities and harm our environment each year. Moving from
single-use plastic bags to reusable bags is common sense. Governor
Brown?s signature reflects our commitment to protect the environment and
reduce government costs,? Padilla added.

?Single-use plastic bags litter our beaches, our mountains, deserts,
rivers, streams and lakes. SB 270 addresses this problem while striking
the right balance. It protects the environment as well as California
jobs as we transition to reusable bags and a greener economy,? said
Senator Alex Padilla.

?SB 270 is a win-win for the environment and for California workers,?
said Senate President pro Tempore-elect Kevin de Le?n. ?We are doing
away with the scourge of single-use plastic bags and closing the loop on
the plastic waste stream, all while maintaining ? and growing ?
California jobs. As we further develop our green economy, SB 270 will be
a model for balancing the health of the planet with the preservation of
people?s livelihoods,? added Senator De Leon.

"This bill protects our environment by reducing plastic in our waste
stream, and provides resources for California bag manufacturers to
retrain their workers and re-engineer their operations to make plastic
bags meet new, environmentally sound criteria. It?s a win for the
environment, a win for manufacturers and a win for jobs," said Senator
Ricardo Lara.