California Senate Rejects Bag Ban, Passes Expanded Bottle Bill

California’s state Senate voted down a statewide bag ban bill but passed an expanded version of its bottle bill.

Senate Bill 405, which would have banned plastic bags across the state, failed by a vote of 18-17. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Alex Padilla, needed 21 votes to pass.

“We are disappointed in this missed opportunity to dramatically reduce plastic pollution and waste in California, and save consumers hundreds of millions in one-time use bag costs,” said Mark Murray, executive director of Californians Against Waste, in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Senate passed Assembly Bill 1001, which would expand the state’s bottle bill to include beverage container types currently exempt from recycling programs like aseptic and paperboard containers (juice boxes) and large juice bottles. “This expansion will reduce consumer confusion and program inefficiencies,” the Sacramento-based association said.