This week, California’s elected officials voted down both a ban on plastic bags and a ban on Bisphenol-A (BPA) in plastic baby bottles, sippy cups and baby formula containers.

Thanks to the millions spent by lobbyists for the American Chemistry Council, Dow, and Exxon to defeat these bills, now every Californian knows just what the acronym BPA means; why BPA should never be allowed in baby products;  and exactly how much cash-strapped California spends on collection and removal of plastic bags (at least $25 million, and possibly much more), lavishly handed away at the checkout lines.

With our state in such dire financial straits that teachers are being furloughed and libraries are being closed, we are grateful to the chemical company lobbyists for helping us bring this needless waste of money to the forefront of public discourse.

Thanks to the expensive and contentious debate around these two bills, every Californian is wondering why plenty of other developed nations, like France and Canada have managed to ban BPA from baby products in their countries. Why can’t it be done here? Do we care less about our babies? Every Californian is chagrined to see that “developing nations” like India, Mexico, China and so many others have already banned plastic bags. Why can’t Americans do the same?

True, the bans on plastic bags and BPA in baby products in California were not enacted, in spite of overwhelming public, green business, labor and grocery store support. But something more powerful has been put into motion—the unstoppable energy of a mass movement.

Nothing can stop communities from raising their voices against plastic pollution. Banning plastic bags is something every community can do, just like many local jurisdictions have already started banning polystyrene containers.

And BPA? We simply have to continue to push on this. Our children deserve our protection. Mothers and fathers, let’s all speak up and demand safe BPA-free children’s products.

We, the founders of Plastic Pollution Coalition will continue to support all efforts to reduce plastic pollution and its toxic impacts on our environment. We are more motivated than ever; the time is now.

Daniella Dimitrova Russo, Dianna Cohen, Lisa Kaas Boyle, Manuel Maqueda

and Plastic Pollution Coalition Notable Supporters:
Rosanna Arquette
Rachelle Carson
Luis Conte, and family
Maria G. Conte, Carina Conte, Luis C. Conte
Chris Jordan
Kate Connor
Jackson Browne
Kelly Slater
Joanna Moore
Captain Charles Moore
Amy Smart
The Ditty Bops
Wavy Gravy