Opposition to 'Bag Ban Bill' (AB 1998) Near 500 Strong: Small Grocers, Retailers Lead the Pack

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Aug 20, 2010, 03:34 ET

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Opposition to AB 1998, the so-called "bag ban bill," is growing rapidly across the state. Hundreds of businesses, many of them small grocers and retailers have joined forces with manufacturing associations, chambers of commerce and plastic bag makers statewide to send a clear message to Sacramento: start focusing on the real problems facing Californians.

In its current iteration, AB 1998 would prohibit large grocers, drug stores, food marts and convenience stores from providing their customers free plastic bags and require a minimum five-cent fee on paper bags. The Senate Appropriations Committee determined that AB 1998 would require $2 million in new state costs to fund a new "bag police" bureaucracy. The fees collected from paper bags would be pocketed by grocers and would not fund the infrastructure required by the bill. The passage of AB 1998 would result in the elimination of hundreds of California-based plastic bag manufacturing jobs and would dismantle a young but growing plastic bag recycling infrastructure.

AB 1998 is pending consideration by the Senate Rules Committee after it was moved from the Senate Appropriations Committee late last week without a vote. Because AB 1998 did not meet the August 13th committee reporting deadline, it would require a 2/3 majority to pass to the Senate floor for final consideration before the legislature adjourns August 31.

The growing list of those opposing AB 1998 includes:
Fiesta Foods
Food Fair Market
Market Produce
Sierra Produce
Whittier Farms
Garden Ranch Market
Black Business Association
California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
California Manufacturers & Technology Association
California Film Extruders & Converters Association
Californians for Extended Producer Responsibility
Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce
Long Beach Black Chamber of Commerce
Moreno Valley Black Chamber of Commerce
Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce
Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, (Long Beach)
Downey Chamber of Commerce
San Diego Urban Economic Corporation
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Alameda County
Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Silicon Valley
Carson Black Chamber of Commerce
Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Fresno
Los Angeles Metro Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
South Bay Latino Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles
Cambodian Chamber of Commerce, Long Beach
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Orange County
Inland Empire Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
California Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce, Los Angeles
American Chemistry Council

For a full list of the nearly 500 small businesses and organizations opposed to AB 1998 and more information about the fight against AB 1998, visit www.stopthebagpolice.com. Visitors are also invited to sign up to receive updates.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care®, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $674 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is one of the nation's largest exporters, accounting for ten cents out of every dollar in U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure.

SOURCE American Chemistry Council