Earlier this month, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced that the proponents of a new initiative were cleared to begin collecting petition signatures.

The initiative, if approved, would require state regulations to reduce plastic waste, tax producers of single-use plastics, and fund recycling and environmental programs.

Specifically, the initiative would require that CalRecycle adopt regulations reducing plastic waste, including to: (1) require that single-use plastic packaging, containers and utensils be reusable, recyclable or compostable, and to reduce such waste by 25% by 2030; (2) prohibit polystyrene container use by food vendors; and (3) tax producers of single-use plastic packaging, containers or utensils by Jan. 1, 2022, and allocate revenues for recycling and environmental programs, including local water supply protection.

According to the state’s legislative analyst and director of finance, the fiscal impacts on state and local governments include new state revenue from new tax on single-use plastic packaging and foodware, which is likely in the range of a few billion dollars annually. The proponents of the measure, Michael J. Sangiacomo, Caryl Hart and Linda Escalante, must collect signatures of 623,212 registered voters (5% of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2018 general election) in order to qualify it for the ballot. The proponents have 180 days to circulate petitions for the measure, meaning the signatures must be submitted to county elections officials no later than July 7.

The proponents can be reached c/o Emily A. Andrews of Olson, Hagel & Fishburn, LLP at (916)442-2952, or 555 Capitol Mall, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95814.