New Yr, New Legal guidelines – San Francisco Bay Occasions

From Congregation Member Phil Ting –

When we ring in 2022, the Golden State will take significant steps to reduce plastic pollution and reform our criminal justice system – thanks to legislation I have written, which will come into effect January 1st, and other beverages will be available in greener packaging. Under my bill, California is the first state in the country to set standards for the content of recycled plastic that CRV beverage packaging must contain post-consumer materials.

I think it’s ridiculous that companies make new plastic every time they need a bottle for their products. At the current rate, plastic waste will exceed the number of fish in our oceans by 2050. The new law aims to reduce waste by creating a market for recycled plastic. Reusing what has already been created also supports the state’s transition to a circular economy and leads us to a more sustainable model.

California takes a step-by-step approach. The next drink you grab will initially have at least 15% recycled materials in that plastic bottle. By 2030 the standard will reach 50% – the highest threshold in the world and exceed the mandate of 30% in the European Union. The AB 793 plastic bottle standard applies to all beverages sold in our state, regardless of where the container was made. Otherwise, manufacturers face fines for failing to meet the targets.

This new law will also help prop up our country’s recycling centers. The dwindling US demand for recycled plastic has partly led to the tidal wave of recycling center closings in California, leaving consumers with fewer places to take their bottles and cans to get their CRV deposit back.

In addition, China and other overseas markets have stopped buying much of California’s recycled waste. The result? Recyclable plastic is piling up in warehouses, flooding our landfills and polluting our environment. As mentioned earlier, if we didn’t take action, we were well on the way to having more plastic litter in our oceans. AB 793 takes a different approach by strengthening the market for recycled plastic. Naked Juice has been using plastic bottles made from 100% recycled post-consumer content since 2010, showing that the move can be successful.

In addition, AB 33 is to come into force, which will help our public schools and hospitals to switch to more environmentally friendly energy. It enables them to be eligible for an existing low-interest government loan program to install clean energy storage systems and charging stations for electric vehicles. An additional advantage: They can continue to be used in the event of a longer power failure.

I’m also excited about a new pilot program starting in San Francisco that has been approved by my AB 1452 Bill. It increases the daily salary of low-income jurors from $ 15 to $ 100 to see if higher pay leads to more diversified juries. Studies have shown that different juries spend more time deliberating and are less likely to suspect guilt. The collected philanthropic funds will be used for the test phase.

An additional reform implements a “second look” policy. AB 1540 prohibits the courts from rejecting requests for re-convictions without a hearing. This will make the system fairer and more just, while also bringing California closer to the end of mass incarceration.

I am already working on my priorities for the legislative year 2022. I look forward to telling you all about it in the months to come. I wish you and your loved ones a Happy New Year!

Phil Ting represents the 19th Congregation District, which includes the west side of San Francisco and the parishes of Broadmoor, Colma, and Daly City.

Published on December 16, 2021