The Responsible Recycling Alliance Calls for Study on Impact of Bag Tax on Communities

SACRAMENTO, Calif. --The Responsible Recycling Alliance (RRA), a coalition of three prominent California recyclers and manufacturers – EFS Plastics, Merlin Plastics, and PreZero US which was formed to help California reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic waste across the state through effective education and legislation – today called for the immediate launch of an economic impact study to analyze the potentially profound impact of the “Bag Tax” that AB 2236 (Bauer-Kahan) and SB 1053 (Blakespear) would impose across the state.

As currently amended, these bills will force shoppers to use paper bags which, in turn, means that grocers will have to pay more for these bags, with those costs ultimately trickling down to every Californian. Unlike larger chains, small- and mid-size grocers serve a higher percentage of WIC (Women, Infant and Children) Assistance shoppers and will struggle with the added cost of a paper-only requirement when they must give away these expensive paper bags for free.

Moreover, while framed as environmentally friendly, these bills are anti-environment since paper bags use more water and energy in their recycling and production than the would-be banned, reusable, recyclable, plastic film grocery bags.

“Now is not the time to rush through legislation whose lasting economic impact is unknown – especially as Californians suffer from higher costs every time they buy groceries,” Roxanne Spiekerman, spokesperson for the RRA and Vice President of Public Affairs for PreZero US, said. “And for the thousands of small businesses who serve communities in need, this ‘bag tax’ could well be the difference between staying open or going out of business for good, which would harm these communities even further.”

The RRA believes that the better approach is to amend AB 2236 and SB 1053 to integrate reusable, recyclable, plastic film grocery bags into the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Program created in 2022 by SB 54. Doing so will ensure that California creates a viable plastic film and bag infrastructure for all plastic film products. California needs to create a lasting, sustainable recycling solution that keeps plastic out of landfills, limits waste and protects businesses and consumers from unnecessary added costs.