As much as 90 percent of the litter in our oceans comes from plastic polymers. These are from sources including the little shampoo and lotion bottles that hotels provide to their guests. Those plastic bottles can take 450 years to decompose. Two California lawmakers have introduced a law that would help reduce that pollution.
Assembly Bill 1162, introduced by state assembly members Mark Stone and Ash Kalra, would prohibit all California lodging establishments from providing 12-ounce or smaller plastic bottles containing shampoo, conditioner, lotion and other toiletries.
This ban would apply to hotels, motels, resorts, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rental properties. The owners and operators of these establishments who ignore the ban will first receive a written warning, followed by a fine of $500 for each subsequent violation, not to exceed $2,000 each year.
If passed, the ban will go into effect in January 2023. Please sign and share this petition urging California legislators to support AB 1162 to help reduce plastic pollution—and to hopefully inspire other states to do the same.
Photo credit: Getty Images
