Newsom Delays Plastics Pollution Rules, Citing High Costs (1)

California Governor Gavin Newsom has told state regulators to go back to the drawing board on sweeping rules that would drastically reduce single-use plastics, citing concerns over the measure’s cost.

The governor’s office said the draft regulations, set to clear a key rulemaking hurdle on March 8, would impose unacceptable burdens on businesses. Newsom is worried that the added cost will also affect consumers, said spokesperson Daniel Villasenor.

The governor is directing the state agency CalRecycle to redraft the regulations and wants to “ensure California’s bold recycling law can achieve its goal of cutting plastic pollution and is implemented fairly ...