Surfrider Foundation’s Rise Above Plastics Program
CA Chapters Conference 2010
Campaign Support for AB1998
RISE ABOVE PLASTICSMission Statement: “To reduce the impacts of plastics in the marine environment by raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and by advocating for a reduction of single-use plastics and the recycling of all plastics.
Why this is important:
Assembly Bill 1998
• Single-Use Bag Reduction Act (AB 1998) would ban plastic single-use carryout bags and require a 5 cent charge on paper carryout bags at large supermarkets, retail pharmacies, and convenience stores throughout the state
• Aimed to eliminate the distribution of approximately 19 billion plastic bags in California each year; 70,000 picked up on our beaches in one day
AB 1998 Timeline & Partners• In Senate Approps until 8/13; full Senate vote before 8/29• January 1, 2012 – would ban single-use plastic bags from
supermarkets and large retail stores• July 1, 2013 – the ban would spread to smaller retail stores
and reusable bags MUST be made available for purchase• Partners:
• Environment California• Waterkeepers• Heal the Bay• Save the Bay• Clean Water Action• Grocers Association
AB 1998 Advocacy
• Events– Clean Seas Coalition “Lobby Day” Aug 10th – BagIt Movie Screenings
• Long Beach, Santa Barbara, Humboldt, Santa Cruz, South Orange County
– San Francisco Chico Bags Bag Monster Tour, Aug 12th – Beach Clean Ups and Local Press Opportunities
• Targeting Senators– Work within the Clean Seas Coalition to target key votes
and lobbying techniques- “Power players”: Ducheny, Padilla, Steinberg, Strictland
AB 1998 Tools
• Sample support letters from Businesses, City Council, Coastal User Groups, Chambers, etc
• Surfrider Action Alert (on RAP website)• Facebook Ban the Bag page• Postcards• Bill information, analysis, support list, Clean
Seas Coalition resources (sample LTEs)• Ban the Bag t-shirts, mail order for RAP
Plastics On the Horizon• Other Statewide Legislation: HI, OR, NC, FL• Federal Legislation Opportunity? Moran bill• Highlighted Program for SFHQ?• 2011 International Youth
Summit with Algalita
Marine Research Foundation• 5 Gyres
Expedition to Remaining Gyres