CA Bill Limits Straw Use; Gives Fines Or Jail Time To Violators

CALIFORNIA -- A Los Angeles-area Assemblyman is proposing a bill that would reduce the use of plastic straws because of its "detrimental effects" on the environment. Anyone who violates the proposed law could get fined or be thrown in jail.

Majority Leader Ian Calderon (D-Whittier) introduced a bill that would only allow restaurants to offer straws to dine-in customers if they ask for them. Assembly Bill 1884 would fine violators between $25 to $1,000. They could also be found guilty of a misdemeanor and be given a county jail sentence of less than six months.

“We need to create awareness around the issue of one-time use plastic straws and its detrimental effects on our landfills, waterways, and oceans,” Calderon said. “AB 1884 is not ban on plastic straws. It is a small step towards curbing our reliance on these convenience products, which will hopefully contribute to a change in consumer attitudes and usage.”

In a press release, Calderon's office said "plastic is a material that lasts forever, yet 33 percent of all plastics are used just once and thrown away. Only 9 percent of all plastics are recycled, but due to their small size and lack of a resin code, no straws are ever recycled. After their one-time use, non-biodegradable plastic straws often end up in our oceans and waterways where they break down into smaller, micro-size pieces that are discarded into our environment. They are oftentimes mistaken as food by marine life."

Calderon's office also said "an estimated 500 million straws are used in the United States every day. This number is enough to fill over 127 school buses each day and is calculated to be about 1.6 straws per person in the U.S."

However, Snopes reported that statistic was derived from a study conducted by a 16-year-old.

California has been known for its strong positions to protect the environment. In 2016, Californians voted to prohibit stores from providing customers single–use plastic without a 10 cent fee.

--Photo: In this Aug. 18, 2016 file photo is Assemblyman Ian Calderon (D-Whittier) a the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)