SB 270 – PLASTIC BAG BAN REFERENDUM –
FOR OR AGAINST?
Discussion with Class of 2016
Environmental Charter High School –
Lawndale, CA
FULL DISCLOSURE ON WHO I AM AND WHO
I WORK FOR
 Cathy
Browne – Environmentalist,
Manufacturer of Plastic Bags – can
the two coexist?
 Crown
Poly – Manufacturer of
plastic bagging systems in
Huntington Park, CA with focus on
sustainability for the past 25 years
– is it possible to be a green
manufacturer, providing 320 jobs
while benefiting the environment?
FACTS AND FALLACIES ABOUT PLASTIC BAGS
1.
2.
3.
4.
Plastic Bags are not single
use
1.
2.
Plastic Bags are not a huge 3.
source of Litter
Plastic Bags do not kill
4.
millions of fish, birds and
marine animals annually
Reusable Bags are better
for the Environment
Over 41% of all front end
grocery bags are reused in UK¹
Plastic bags comprise less than
1% of litter (.6%)²
Plastic Fishing Line kills
millions of fish, birds and
marine animals annually³
Reusable bags that look like
cloth are woven Polypropylene
(plastic) Made in China and
shipped here by the millions.
Also, results from British LCA
show grocery bags are better
than cotton and paper bags for
the environment⁴
¹UK Govt Environment Agency, Lifecycle Assessment of Plastic, Paper and Reusable Bags 2-18-11
² Plastic Retail Bags in Litter, Environmental Resources Planning Brief
³ Incidental Catch of Marine Birds and Mammals in Fishing Nets off Newfoundland, Canada Marine Pollution Bulletin, pg
344-349, 1987
⁴ UK Govt Environment Agency, LCA
PLASTIC BAGS VS. REUSABLE BAGS



British LCA shows that a plastic bag is better for the
environment only if a cotton bag is used more than
130 times. (with the plastic bag not being reused,
which more than 40% are).
British LCA shows that a plastic bag is better for the
environment only if a woven PP bag is used more
than 11 times. The import tariffs by the US Trade
Commission shows that more than 30 woven PP bags
have been imported into the US for every man,
woman and child in the past 7 years. This ban has
been a boon for China and their PP bag business.
British LCA shows that a plastic bag is better for the
environment only if a paper bag is used more than 3
times. (can anyone reuse paper bags more than once
on a regular basis?)
FACTS AND FALLACIES ABOUT PLASTIC BAGS/TAXES
UNINTENDED SIDE EFFECTS OF BAG BANS
Banning plastic bags from grocery stores
will reduce the amount of plastic by a
significant quantity from our planet.
 False: banning plastic bags increases the
amount of plastic in countries/municipalities
that ban front end grocery bags by
increasing trash bag usage 15 – 60%. (since
up to 60% of shoppers reuse front end
grocery bags as trash bags).⁵ The increase in
trash bag sales is also noted as an
unintended side effect of bag tax in Ireland.

⁵ Ehrenberg Bass Institute for Marketing Science, University of South Australia
FACTS AND FALLACIES ABOUT PLASTIC
BAGS
Banning plastic bags will save millions of barrels
of oil.
 False: Plastic bags, made in the US like ours, are
made out of a byproduct from Natural Gas that if
it is not used, it is flared off. No imported oil is
used in the production of plastic bags.

FACTS AND FALLACIES ABOUT PLASTIC
BAGS
Paper bags are better for the environment. They
are made of a renewable resource and degrade.
 False: Plastic bags are better for the
environment.
 The AFPA (American Forest and Paper
Association) redefined PCR paper pulp
to include post industrial material within
their process.
 Nothing degrades in a landfill since landfills are,
by design, without oxygen and sunlight.

FACTS AND FALLACIES ABOUT SB270
PLASTIC BAG BAN



The $0.10 - $0.25 per bag fee on thicker reusable plastic bags or paper
bags is benefiting the environment. This is a “good tax” to help our
planet.
False. This is an example of Corporate Welfare. Safeway pushed the
plastic bag ban/reusable and paper bag fee because they stood to profit
in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually. The plastic and paper
bags have always been in your cost of goods of groceries when they were
provided at no charge. Now, there is profit motive for the grocers.
Beware of Government issuing regulations on weird things – follow the
money. Is there money being spent by the plastics
industry? Yes, but not nearly as much as spent by the
grocers and NGO’s who work full time in Sacramento
in the Senate and Assembly.
Addressing Alternatives:
What does switching from plastic bags to paper bags
mean to Californians?
 $562,800,000 in additional retail costs by switching to paper bags
 Plastic bags cost $0.01 on and paper bags cost $0.08 on average
 Analysis includes a 1:1.5 carrying capacity ratio of paper compared to
plastic
 30,000 more trucks to deliver paper bags
 7:1 ratio paper bags compared to plastic bags
 Increased diesel fuel consumption of 4,000,000 gallons to deliver paper
bags
 30,000 trucks X 800 mile average delivery ÷ 6 MPG = 4 million gallons
 Over $240,000,000 additional costs to California consumers to
purchase plastic bags to replace the free grocery bags they re-use every
day for house hold purposes.
 A very conservative 40% reuse rate of free plastic retail carry-out bags
being replaced by purchased bags for trash can liners, pet waste
containment and other home conveniences at $0.05 per bag
Addressing Alternatives:
Paper vs. Plastic
Plastic
bags offer a meaningful environmental advantage over paper bags.
Water Usage
Energy Consumption
Plastic bags use less than
3% of the fresh water
necessary to make paper
bags. Water is our next
scarce resource in CA.
Manufacturing plastic bags
consumes 82% less energy
than paper bags. Recycling
one pound of plastic takes
91% less energy than
recycling one pound of
paper.
Transportation
For every 7 trucks
needed to deliver paper
bags, only 1 truck is
needed for the same
number of plastic bags.
VESTED INTEREST




Do I have a vested interest in being against SB270?
Yes, because we employ 320 people today that weren’t part of our
company 25 years ago. California should support manufacturers in
this state and city, not hurt them.
Yes, because I think it is like a regressive tax and is unfairly
punitive to those who can least afford it. Not everyone can buy a
Whole Foods reusable bag and leave in their car when they go to
the store. Some in our society take the bus or walk to the store on
their way home and don’t carry reusable bags to work and then to
the store with them.
I am not so naïve to believe our society cannot live without plastic
bags. I agree that our disposable consumerism is a problem for the
planet, and the fact that not much is manufactured in the US
anymore is a big problem for me. I support people using reusable
bags. I do not support people being forced to use reusable bags by
false propaganda to have the ends justify the means so that millions
are made by the grocers.
Q&A
I learned a long time ago that it is
difficult to change people’s
positions on issues.
 However, it is important to me that
facts and science are taught and
learned.
 Then it is up to you to make up
your own mind as to what you
believe. But at least you have
made an informed decision.
 Thank you for inviting me to
speak with you and present
another side on this issue. It is
appreciated!
