California Plastic Bag Ban Fails

California's SB-405, the proposed statewide ban on plastic bags, melted down in flames as the California Senate voted against a plastic bag ban and paper bag tax.

The American Progressive Bag Alliance, an organization representing U.S. plastic bag manufacturers and recyclers, fought tooth-and-nail over the last year to defeat SB-405 and save thousands of jobs in California.

APBA Chairman Mark Daniels expressed satisfaction with being heard and understood by California state senators, who decided that legislation outlawing plastic shopping bags was not the best option for the entire State.

"Today's vote signals the facts have prevailed in this debate," Daniels declared.  "A ban on 100 percent recyclable plastic bags would hurt the environment and threaten jobs. The American Progressive Bag Alliance works hard to protect American jobs in the plastic bag manufacturing and recycling industry - including 2,000 in California - and our organization has repeatedly called for an honest debate on this issue."

Mark Daniels also extended thanks to Sacramento lawmakers who voted against the statewide plastic bag ban.

"We thank the members of the California Senate who rejected this misguided policy prescription based on unfounded stats, junk science and myths, and we hope lawmakers will continue to make responsible decisions on behalf of California’s environment and economy," Daniels added.

Still, some county and city governments across the state have enacted their own plastic bag bans and more are currently considering it, regardless of the statewide ban's failure.

The plastic grocery bag battle wages on toward the checkout.