As most readers are likely aware, California has for some time been at the forefront of efforts to reduce food packaging and foodware waste through legislation. In 2014, for instance, California became the first to pass a statewide ban on plastic bags when SB 270 was signed into law. Although implementation was delayed, California voters ultimately backed the ban in 2016, and it became effective immediately after that year's election. Since 2014, a number of other laws that aim to reduce food-contact waste have been enacted in the Golden State. The majority of these impact plastic packaging waste, but not all. This article will review various pieces of legislation that have been introduced to continue these efforts. California SB 1263, which was signed into law on Sept. 20,2018, required the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) to adopt a statewide research strategy and identify early actions to reduce micro-plastic pollution in California's marine environment. OPC's report, titled "Statewide Microplastics Strategy, Understanding and Addressing Impacts to Protect Coastal and Ocean Health," was released in February 2022. The strategy outlines a two-track approach to comprehensively manage microplastics in California: (1) solutions and (2) science to inform future action.
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