Sacramento, CA – Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) released the following statement regarding the State Assembly’s inaction on his legislation, SB 54, during the 2019 session:

"I am disappointed that the State Assembly failed to take up a vote on SB 54 before adjourning for the year last Friday. This important measure would have established a first-of-its-kind framework to drastically reduce single-use plastic and packaging waste by 2030.

"The measure directs CalRecycle to, with stakeholder involvement, adopt regulations that would virtually eliminate waste from packaging and the most prevalent plastic products that cannot be recycled or composted. 

"Going into the final week of session, following the last round of amendments, a significant number of previously-opposed industry groups came on in support, or went neutral.  This gave us momentum in advance of an Assembly vote, and I am confident that if taken up in time the measure would have passed both houses and been signed into law by the governor.   The immediacy of the plastics and waste crises, combined with the extraordinary coalition of local government, waste haulers, businesses, and environmental organizations pushing the measure would have most likely carried the day, which is why the failure to act on this crucial bill was so disheartening. 

"While I am disappointed SB 54 did not gain final passage this year, I look forward to continued productive discussions with all stakeholders over the next several months. I remain committed to getting a strong policy in law that not only addresses the plastics and waste crisis here in California, but that can also serve as a model for the world to address this critical issue globally.  We’ll be working during the interim and bring this bill back in the coming year."

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California State Senator Ben Allen represents the 26th Senate District, which consists of the Westside, Hollywood and coastal South Bay communities of Los Angeles County.

Follow Senator Allen on Twitter: @BenAllenCA; Facebook: www.facebook.com/BenAllenCalifornia; and Instagram: @BenAllenCA.