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California Bans Hotels From Offering Small Plastic Bottles

Marriott Hotel Chain To Phase Out Small Plastic Toiletry Bottles

If you're thinking about traveling to California and staying in a hotel anytime soon, you'll want to stock up on your own soap and shampoo bottles if you plan on staying in a hotel. On Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced he'd signed a law that will ban hotels in the state from offering guests small plastic bottles filled with shampoo, conditioner or soap.

Hotels with more than 50 rooms will have to get rid of the plastic bottles by 2023. Hotels with fewer than 50 rooms will have until 2024, according to the law's text. Hotels that violate the law could be fined $500 for the first offense, with fines increasing for subsequent violations up to $2,000.

The move comes after several hotel chains and entertainment companies have announced they were phasing out the small plastic bottles in an effort to reduce their plastic footprints. In August, one of the world's largest hotel chains, Marriott International announced they would begin phasing out the use of small plastic bottles in their hotel by 2020.

"This is our second global initiative aimed at reducing single-use plastics in just over a year, which underscores how important we believe it is to continuously find ways to reduce our hotels’ environmental impact. It’s a huge priority for us," said Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International. "Our guests are looking to us to make changes that will create a meaningful difference for the environment while not sacrificing the quality service and experience they expect from our hotels."

The parent company for Holiday Inn, Kimpton and other hotel brands, IHG has also promised to eliminate small plastic bottles by 2021.

Lawmakers in California have passed a series of laws over the last two years in an effort to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the state. The state already bans plastic bags at grocery stores without charging customers a 10 cent fee. Last year, another law was signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown that requires customers to request a straw if they want one while dining out at restaurants. In August, San Francisco International Airport banned the sale of plastic water bottles inside the terminal, with officials encouraging passengers to bring their own bottles if they wanted to fill up.

Photo: Getty Images


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