lawmakers is keeping a California recycling measure off the ballot. The bill sailed through the Assembly on A bill negotiated by environmentalists, the plastics industry andWednesday night and the state Senate on Thursday morning, and the proponents withdrew the initiative just before the deadline.
The California environmentalists who back a November ballot measure to reduce single-use plastics withdrew it just ahead of the Thursday deadline, following fierce negotiations with lawmakers and others on a bill that aims to achieve many of the same goals and that is supported by some influential environmental organizations.
The three signatories of the initiative said in a joint statement late Wednesday that they would withdraw it once Gov. Gavin Newsom signs Senate Bill 54 into law.
“However, if the California State Legislature is not convinced we can implement these plastic pollution reduction reforms, disadvantaged community protections, and conservation programs and they do not pass SB 54, we are ready to take the issue to the voters in November,” they wrote.
Wednesday night, the bill sailed through the Assembly on a 63-1 vote. Thursday morning, the state Senate voted 29-0 to send it to Newsom’s desk. Later Thursday, the governor announced he had signed the bill into law, saying: “We’re holding polluters responsible and cutting plastics at the source.”
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