Calif. 'coastal caucus' aims to rid beaches of man-made debris

A group of Democratic state lawmakers is planning a coordinated, anti-litter assault on California's beaches, seeking to rid them of some of the leading sources of man-made debris that wash downstream after storms and ultimately make their way into the ocean, threatening marine life.
On the target list: plastic bags distributed by supermarkets and other stores, plastic-foam food containers, and twist-off caps from plastic water and soft-drink bottles.
Members of the state Assembly's informal "coastal caucus" this week introduced a package of bills aimed at reducing marine debris. All of the bills would implement recommendations of the Coastal Protection Council, a state agency established in 2004.
The bills are enthusiastically supported by coastal environmental groups, including the Santa Monica-based Heal the Bay.
"California's urban beaches look like a garbage dump after a storm, and we can't recycle our way out of the problem," said Heal the Bay spokeswoman Kirsten James.
A study released Tuesday by the non-profit Ocean Conservancy shows the problem extends far beyond California. Nearly 7 million pounds of debris was collected from 17,000 miles of American coastlines by 400,000 volunteers on a single day last year, the group announced. That trash included 1.3 million plastic bags, 940,000 food containers and 937,000 caps and lids.
In California, the most controversial aspect of the new anti-trash bills is a reprisal of last year's effort to implement a 25-cent fee on each plastic bag, a proposal that died in the Legislature after Republicans loudly derided it as a tax increase.
This year's effort is being spearheaded by Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, D-Santa Monica.
"We pick up habits without really thinking of the consequences," Brownley said. "We've become bag monsters."
She cited estimates that the average American consumer uses 500 plastic bags a year, which means about 19 billion bags are put into circulation annually in California. Because of their light weight and large surface area, the bags have a parachute-like quality that allows them to be lifted away from trash cans by the slightest breeze.
Brownley's bill would establish a 25-cent fee on bags at supermarkets, large drug stores and convenience stores. Revenue from the fee would be used to promote recycling and pay for litter cleanup, but advocates hope the fee will motivate consumers to change their behavior.
"Over time, disposable bag use will diminish," Brownley said. "Consumers will have a choice: They can continue to pay for their bag habit, or they can use reusable bags."
The California Grocers Association has not yet taken a position on the bill, but spokesman Dave Heylen said it generally opposes fees while supporting efforts to promote reusable bags. "Changing consumer behavior is generally what we're talking about," he said.
Another measure, sponsored by Assemblyman Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, would ban the use of polystyrene foam in food containers. Plastics made with this material break down into small pieces, which are easily transported via storm drains to the sea.
Some local governments, including Santa Monica and Malibu, already ban the use of such food containers in their cities, and Hill said it is time for "a consistent statewide standard."
A third bill, authored by Assemblywoman Lori Saldana, D-San Diego, would require that caps be made of the same sort of recyclable plastic as beverage containers and be leashed to the bottle.
Supporters, including Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, said they expect resistance from the industry but compared the situation to the successful fight decades ago to eliminate pull-cap lids from aluminum beverage cans.
"They said if we didn't let them use pull-caps, nobody would be able to drink beer," Garamendi recalled. "The industry will adjust."

(Timm Herdt writes for the Ventura County Star in California.)