BILL NUMBER: AB 1023	CHAPTERED  07/27/07

	CHAPTER  143
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 27, 2007
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 27, 2007
	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 28, 2007
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JULY 20, 2007
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 21, 2007
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 16, 2007

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member DeSaulnier

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2007

   An act to add Section 42298 to the Public Resources Code, relating
to recycling.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1023, DeSaulnier. Recycling: compostable and biodegradable
plastic trash bags.
   Existing law requires a manufacturer of plastic trash bags equal
to or greater than 0.70 mil thickness to ensure either that its trash
bags intended for sale in this state contain a quantity of recycled
plastic postconsumer material equal to at least 10% of the weight of
the regulated bags, or that at least 30% of the weight of the
material used in all of its plastic products intended for sale in
this state is recycled plastic postconsumer material. The
manufacturer is required to obtain from its supplier of recycled
plastic postconsumer material a statement containing specified
information and to certify to the Integrated Waste Management Board
that it is in compliance with the recycled plastic postconsumer
material requirements.
   Existing law prohibits a person from selling a plastic bag that is
labeled as "biodegradable," "compostable," "degradable," or as
otherwise specified, unless, at the time of the sale, the plastic bag
meets a current American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
standard specification for the term used on the label.
   This bill would exempt, from those requirements for plastic trash
bags, a plastic bag that is labeled with one of those terms and meets
the ASTM standard specification for that term.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 42298 is added to the Public Resources Code, to
read:
   42298.  A plastic bag that is labeled with a term specified in
subdivision (a) of Section 42357 and that meets the current ASTM
standard specified for that term, as defined in Section 42356, is
exempt from the requirements of this chapter.