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Strong Support for Resolution in Support of the California Recycling and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act
Alexa Chavez < >
Wed 6/8/2022 1:18 PM
To: Rules and Open Government Committee Agendas <[email protected]> 1 attachments (152 KB)
CAW Letter of Support SJCC.pdf;
You don't often get email from . Learn why this is important Hello,
On behalf of Californians Against Waste, I would like to voice support and urge the City of San Jose City Council Rules & Open Government on Agenda item C1 to adopt a position of support for the California Plastic Waste Reduction Regulations Ballot Initiative, a statewide measure appearing on the November 2022 ballot.
Please see our attached letter in support, thank you.
Best,
Alexandrina Chavez (She ,Her, Hers)
Policy Associate
Californians Against Waste
Work:
Mobile:
June 6
th, 2022
San Jose City Council Rules Committee
200 E. Santa Clara St.
San Jose, Ca 95113
RE: Strong Support for Resolution in Support of the California Recycling and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act
Dear members of the San Jose City Council Rules Committee, On behalf of Californians Against Waste, we would like to encourage the City of San Jose to adopt the Resolution, in support of the California Recycling and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act, a statewide measure appearing on the November 2022 ballot.
Global plastic production is approaching one million tons per day, negatively impacting our climate, beginning with the extraction of fossil fuels. The production of plastics is expected to double in the next 20 years and will drive more than half of oil demand growth between now and the year 2050.
Researchers also estimate that of the 8.3 billion tons of plastic ever produced, about 60% of that plastic has ended up in either a landfill or our natural environment. Around 8 million tons of plastic finds its way into our oceans annually, and scientists estimate that by the year 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans.
Plastic production harms our local communities and ecosystems. Scientists have found microplastics in fish, sugar, salt, beer, soil, and water as well as in our blood and lungs. An estimated 73 percent of litter found on beaches is plastic: filters from cigarette butts, bottles, bottle caps, food wrappers, grocery bags, and polystyrene containers. Local cleanup and waste management programs cannot keep up with the exponential rate of plastic production; only about 9% of all single-use plastics produced are ever recycled.
Apart from the toll on human and environmental health, the cost of the skyrocketing production of plastics is currently being paid for by your ratepayers. As you are aware, waste management rates have steadily increased about 10% on average to accommodate rising volumes of plastic recyclables and plastic trash.
The California Recycling and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act places a fee of up to one cent per component of plastic packaging and single-use foodware based on cost of recyclability, shifting costs to plastic manufacturers. The fee is slated to, in part, fund local jurisdictions for investment in recycling and waste management infrastructure as well as education and outreach programs. Continued annual investments in infrastructure and programs paid for by manufacturers will keep rates low for consumers.
The California Recycling and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act is a long-term comprehensive solution to California’s plastics problem. We respectfully urge San Jose City Council to support this ballot measure.
Sincerely,
Alexandrina Chavez
Policy Associate
Californians Against Waste