California passes Plastic Bag Ban Act for the life of game and fish

What this bill means is the producers of plastic single use packaging do their b
est to keep the plastic out of the rivers, lakes and oceans, and encourage the p
lastic producing industry to devise packaging that will save money by reducing t
rash management, cleanup and recycling costs. The answer to that question is yes
.
Plastics represent 60 80% of all marine debris and 90% of all floating debris. A
ccording to the California Coastal Commission, the "Pacific Trash Vortex" or "Ga
rbage Patch" which tends to collect in certain areas of the ocean, the North Pac
ific Central Gyre represents the significant quantities of plastic that end up t
here.
Most plastic marnie debris exists as small particles due to excessive IV radiati
on exposure and photo degradation. These pieces are confused with small fish, pl
ankton or krill and resemble food to marine animals. Plastic bags resemble jelly
fish to turtles and has a negative effect worldwide on 663 animal species; of a
ll marine mammals and 1/5 of all species of seabirds, for example 90% of Laysan
albatross chicks have plastic debris in their gastrointestinal tract.
In addition to the physical pollution, the hydrophobic chemicals present in the
ocean in trace amounts, have an affinity for and can bind to, plastic particles
where they enter and accumulate in the food chain.
The main 4 objectives of this bill are to:
1. Reduce single use packaging,
2. Prevent and control litter and plastic debris,
3. Cleanup and remove ocean litter,
4. Coordinate with other jurisdictions in the pacific region.
The act prevents the at sea disposal or plastic and other solid material for all
navigational waters of the United States
The act also requires the US EPA, the NOAA and the US Coast Guard to jointly con
duct a public education program on the marine environment.
The Act also requires the state to make a list of impaired bodies of water and d
evelop and implement Total Maximum Daily Loads TMDL's for the bodies of water.
It also regulates discharges of pollutants in storm water and urban runoff throu
gh the municipal storm drainage systems.
The act also requires each city to divert 50% of solid waste landfill disposal a
nd not less than 75% of solid waste be reduced, recycled or composted.
Certified used oil or latex paint collection centers for used oil from the publi
c and transported for recycling, implement an education program and use a report
ing, monitoring and enforcement program.
Establishes the Cell Phone Recycling Act, which requires every retailer of cell
phones to also have a system for collection of used cell phone for reuse, recycl
ing or proper disposal.
Establishes the Dry Cell Battery Management Act, which establishes requirements
for every retailer of rechargeable batteries to have a place for acceptance and

collection of used rechargeable batteries for reuse, recycling and proper dispos
al.
Establishes the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act, which requires manufacturers
to include collection, handling and arranging for proper management of mercury t
hermostats.
Requires pharmaceutical manufacturers that sell or distribute hypodermic needles
or home users of hypodermic needles to take action for safe collection and prop
er disposal of.