Plastic waste is a global issue, with limitations being evident on all fronts, especially in research and infrastructure. The state of California in the United States has passed new legislation that aims to reduce the burden of plastic waste and hold plastic manufacturers responsible.
The bill is arguably the most progressive plastic mitigation bill passed in the country. We're breaking down the SB-54 bill and how likely it is that other states will follow suit in their policies.
The Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, otherwise known as SB-54, has recently been signed into law in California. This bill has been in the making for more than three years and is a bold move toward tackling the plastic pollution crisis in California and the United States.
The bill was created to satisfy citizen demands, reduce single-use plastics, and reposition the responsibility of environmental degradation onto the corporations perpetuating it. Mandates within the over 50-page legislation target plastic producers and distributors.
Certain requirements implemented by the bill are as follows:
The SB-54 bill aims to address a massive environmental and human health concern, plastic pollution. Plastics make up 80% of all marine debris, with an estimated 8 million plastic pieces entering the environment daily.
Targeting plastic producers for the responsibility over plastic pollution is a new legislative venture. Few countries, states, or territories have developed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies. Such policies are designed to impose taxes, fines, or mandates against major producers or corporations for environmental or human health degradation caused by their products. The boldness of the SB-54 bill has done this in a way never seen before in the United States.
Some states have derived their own versions of EPR mandates. Many states have passed regulations on disposable plastic bags. Maine, Connecticut, California, Colorado, and New Jersey are some states that have banned all retail use of plastic bags, with some in various levels of implementation. Paper bags are often used in lieu of plastic bags for a small fee.
The sale of polystyrene, commonly known as styrofoam, has also been banned in Maine, Maryland, and Vermont, with New York joining as of January of 2022.
Little to no plastic regulations of any degree exist in other states.
It is a safe assumption that states who have shown previous legislative involvement with a plastic bag or polystyrene bans may adopt some or all features of California's SB-54 bill. The creation of the SB-54 bill was designed in part for other states to use its policies and implementation examples.
It would not be a surprise to see states like Maine, New Jersey, New York, and other states take advantage of the SB-54 bills' success for their states' policies in the future.
Plastic waste is a global issue, with limitations being evident on all fronts, especially in research and infrastructure. The state of California in the United States has passed new legislation that aims to reduce the burden of plastic waste and hold plastic manufacturers responsible.
The bill is arguably the most progressive plastic mitigation bill passed in the country. We're breaking down the SB-54 bill and how likely it is that other states will follow suit in their policies.
Plastic waste is a global issue, with limitations being evident on all fronts, especially in research and infrastructure. The state of California in the United States has passed new legislation that aims to reduce the burden of plastic waste and hold plastic manufacturers responsible.
The bill is arguably the most progressive plastic mitigation bill passed in the country. We're breaking down the SB-54 bill and how likely it is that other states will follow suit in their policies.
The Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, otherwise known as SB-54, has recently been signed into law in California. This bill has been in the making for more than three years and is a bold move toward tackling the plastic pollution crisis in California and the United States.
The bill was created to satisfy citizen demands, reduce single-use plastics, and reposition the responsibility of environmental degradation onto the corporations perpetuating it. Mandates within the over 50-page legislation target plastic producers and distributors.
Certain requirements implemented by the bill are as follows:
The SB-54 bill aims to address a massive environmental and human health concern, plastic pollution. Plastics make up 80% of all marine debris, with an estimated 8 million plastic pieces entering the environment daily.
Targeting plastic producers for the responsibility over plastic pollution is a new legislative venture. Few countries, states, or territories have developed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies. Such policies are designed to impose taxes, fines, or mandates against major producers or corporations for environmental or human health degradation caused by their products. The boldness of the SB-54 bill has done this in a way never seen before in the United States.
Some states have derived their own versions of EPR mandates. Many states have passed regulations on disposable plastic bags. Maine, Connecticut, California, Colorado, and New Jersey are some states that have banned all retail use of plastic bags, with some in various levels of implementation. Paper bags are often used in lieu of plastic bags for a small fee.
The sale of polystyrene, commonly known as styrofoam, has also been banned in Maine, Maryland, and Vermont, with New York joining as of January of 2022.
Little to no plastic regulations of any degree exist in other states.
It is a safe assumption that states who have shown previous legislative involvement with a plastic bag or polystyrene bans may adopt some or all features of California's SB-54 bill. The creation of the SB-54 bill was designed in part for other states to use its policies and implementation examples.
It would not be a surprise to see states like Maine, New Jersey, New York, and other states take advantage of the SB-54 bills' success for their states' policies in the future.
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