(SACRAMENTO) --- Assemblymember Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) will hold a press conference Tuesday, April 15th to unveil her bill, AB 2505. This bill will protect the health of Californians by banning Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) packaging such as plastic bottles, blister packs and other containers.

“There is a good reason PVC is called a ‘poison plastic’,” stated Brownley. “Throughout its life cycle, PVC is hazardous to human health and the environment. Toxic PVC packaging pollutes our environment, contaminates recycling loads and overburdens our landfills.”

PVC packaging and containers make up 32 percent of the waste in landfills according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and is widely used in thousands of products used by consumers.

Because of the toxic additives used to soften or stabilize PVC, recycling is difficult and can release toxins into the air or water. PVC bottles or other items can contaminate entire loads of plastic recycling, and thereby cause them to be rejected and diverted to landfills.

“There are healthier alternatives to PVC packaging,” said Brownley. “This ban will protect our health by encouraging the use of these alternatives.”

AB 2505 will be heard Tuesday, April 15th in the Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee at 1:30 p.m. in Room 444. The press conference will follow the hearing in Room 317 at 2:30 p.m.

Speakers scheduled to participate include: Bryan Early from Californians Against Waste, Bill Magavern from the Sierra Club and Mary Brune from MOMS (Making Our Milk Safe).