Surfrider Foundation’s Rise Above Plastics Program CA Chapters Conference 2010 Campaign Support for AB1998

RISE ABOVE PLASTICS Mission Statement: “To reduce the impacts of plastics in the marine environment by raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and by advocating for a reduction of single-use plastics and the recycling of all plastics. Why this is important:

Assembly Bill 1998 Single-Use Bag Reduction Act (AB 1998) would ban plastic single-use carryout bags and require a 5 cent charge on paper carryout bags at large supermarkets, retail pharmacies, and convenience stores throughout the state Aimed to eliminate the distribution of approximately 19 billion plastic bags in California each year; 70,000 picked up on our beaches in one day

AB 1998 Timeline & Partners In Senate Approps until 8/13; full Senate vote before 8/29 January 1, 2012 – would ban single-use plastic bags from supermarkets and large retail stores July 1, 2013 – the ban would spread to smaller retail stores and reusable bags MUST be made available for purchase Partners: Environment California Waterkeepers Heal the Bay Save the Bay Clean Water Action Grocers Association

AB 1998 Advocacy Events – Clean Seas Coalition “Lobby Day” Aug 10 th – BagIt Movie Screenings Long Beach, Santa Barbara, Humboldt, Santa Cruz, South Orange County – San Francisco Chico Bags Bag Monster Tour, Aug 12 th – Beach Clean Ups and Local Press Opportunities Targeting Senators – Work within the Clean Seas Coalition to target key votes and lobbying techniques - “Power players”: Ducheny, Padilla, Steinberg, Strictland

AB 1998 Tools Sample support letters from Businesses, City Council, Coastal User Groups, Chambers, etc Surfrider Action Alert (on RAP website) Facebook Ban the Bag page Postcards Bill information, analysis, support list, Clean Seas Coalition resources (sample LTEs) Ban the Bag t-shirts, mail order for RAP

Plastics On the Horizon Other Statewide Legislation: HI, OR, NC, FL Federal Legislation Opportunity? Moran bill Highlighted Program for SFHQ? 2011 International Youth Summit with Algalita Marine Research Foundation 5 Gyres Expedition to Remaining Gyres