Californians must confirm plastic bag ban at the ballot box this November to protect marine life
Riddle me this: What flows out through storm drains into streams and rivers and puts seabirds in peril? What flies away from landfills and ends up in the stomachs of sea turtles?
Plastic bags
The average use of a plastic bag is 12 minutes. The effect on wildlife and the environment will last forever. Plastic bags are one of the biggest culprits of waste in the world. They are not biodegradable, and less than three percent are recycled. In fact, it is estimated that there will be more plastic than fish per pound in our oceans by 2050. That’s why California Governor Jerry Brown signed a statewide ban on disposable plastic bags in 2014. On Tuesday Nov. 8 Californians will have a chance to weigh in on the law by voting on Propositions 67 and 65.
Propositions 67 and 65
Proposition 67 is a referendum that asks voters to decide whether or not to uphold the statewide ban on disposable plastic bags. It is the last item on the ballot. VOTE YES!
Proposition 65 looks like it will help provide funds for the environment. In reality, it was sponsored by out-of-state plastic bag companies and the claimed “environmental fund” does not exist. If the referendum is passed, courts could interpret it as preventing the plastic bag ban from going into effect. VOTE NO!
Californians, just remember: YES on 67 and NO on 65!
Sea turtles and plastic bags
According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, plastic debris kills an estimated 100,000 marine mammals annually, as well as birds and fish. Sea turtles are particularly susceptible to the effects of plastic bags debris. Plastic bags get trapped in their stomach, which prevents them from properly swallowing food, and can cause trapped gas. Many sea turtle rehabilitation facilities commonly deal with float syndrome, which causes turtles to float as a result of trapped gas. Floating can lead to starvation or make sea turtles an easy target for predators. Even parts of plastic bags that are as small as half a fingernail can cause unfortunate fatalities for sea turtles.
Your vote can make a difference
Even though the effect of plastic bags on marine life is clear, plastic bag companies introduced Propositions 67 and 65 out of fear that California’s ban would drive them out of business. To date, four out-of-state plastic bag manufacturers have spent more than $6 million in an effort to block and repeal the ban on plastic bags. Yet 150 California cities and counties have already banned plastic bags, reducing cost, waste and unnecessary threats to the environment. For example, San Jose found a 59 percent drop in park and roadside plastic bag litter, a 76 percent reduction in creek and river litter and a 69 percent reduction in plastic bag litter in storm drains.
Instead of partnering with Californians, these companies are confusing them with wordy ballot measures. On Tuesday Nov. 8, Californians need to vote to protect marine life and show the plastic bag companies who’s boss
VOTE YES on 67 and NO on 65!
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