Statement: Azul Celebrates Signing of SB 1053, California’s Plastic Bag Ban
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: September 23, 2024
CONTACT: media@azul.org
Azul Celebrates Signing of SB 1053, California’s Plastic Bag Ban
Sacramento, CA (September 23, 2024) – On September 22, 2024, Governor Newsom signed SB 1053 into law, fully banning plastic bags at grocery stores and closing a loophole that allowed for thicker plastic bags under the pretense that they were “recyclable.” In response, Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Azul’s Founder and Executive Director, issued the following statement:
“We are excited to see that Governor Newsom has signed SB 1053 into law, finally banning plastic bags in grocery stores ten years after California first banned plastic bags in 2014 and nearly eight years after California voters decisively defeated Big Oil’s attempt to overturn this ban with Proposition 67 in 2016.
SB 1053 affirms California’s national leadership on ocean justice and marks a significant step forward in the fight against plastic pollution. For more than a decade, Azul has been at the forefront of this issue, working with Latino communities to fight against plastic pollution with our Deja El Plastico campaign and highlighting the ocean justice impacts of plastic pollution. Azul’s latest national poll shows Latino voters are overwhelmingly in support of government action to fight plastic pollution – from creating a Global Plastics Treaty to holding manufacturers accountable for plastic pollution created by their products.
We applaud California and Governor Newsom’s leadership in the fight against plastic pollution. This milestone is a testament to California’s commitment to taking action against plastic pollution and prioritizing the health and well-being of our communities, our ocean, and our future generations.”
Tomas Valadez, Azul’s California Policy Associate, issued the following statement:
“With the signing of SB 1053 by Governor Newsom, California has finally banned plastic bags in grocery store checkout lanes and closed a loophole created ten years ago when the state first banned plastic bags. California voters made it clear they supported this bag ban when they defeated Big Oil’s attempt to overturn the ban in 2016. SB 1053 is a step in the right direction and solidifies California as a global leader in fighting plastic pollution. We applaud Governor Newsom for making the right decision and signing SB 1053 into law.”
Tomas Valadez, Azul California Policy Associate, speaks at a press conference in support of California’s plastic bag ban bill (SB 1053) at the California Capitol on August 27, 2024.
Background: In 2012, Azul kicked off its now-iconic Deja el Plástico campaign to reduce plastic pollution. The successful Deja el Plástico initiative has spanned more than a decade with various wins along the way. Notably, in 2014, after the California State Legislature passed the first statewide ban on single-use plastic bags in the U.S. via SB1070 in 2014 – out-of-state bag producers and interest groups introduced a statewide referendum to overturn the ban. Despite being outspent by nearly $5 million, Californians knew better and voted Yes on Prop 67 to ban plastic bags in the state. Azul’s organizing and advocacy only continued to grow from that legacy win.
The 2024 National Azul Poll found that 85 percent of Latino voters believe plastic pollution will only worsen unless the U.S. government intervenes to curb and prevent it, and 88 percent of Latino voters support increasing efforts to do so.
In 2021, Azul and the United Nations Environment Programme released the report Neglected: Environmental Justice Impacts of Marine Litter and Plastics Pollution.
Related Materials:
• Latinos Ask You To Ban The Bag In California
• Plastic Pollution Impacts on SDGs – Azul Infographic
• 2024 National Azul Poll: Latino voters want bold action on plastics – Azul Fact Sheet
• 2024 National Azul Poll