The state of California has proposed a new proposal to ban single-use filters for vaping or tobacco products. If passed, Assembly Bill 1690 would prohibit the sale of tobacco or marijuana products containing disposable filters, and violators who sell, give or otherwise provide tobacco or marijuana products containing disposable filters would face $500 fine.

The sponsor of the proposal, congresswoman Luz Rivas from the San Fernando Valley, emphasized that the purpose of the proposal is not to ban the sale of tobacco or marijuana in California, but to reduce the problem of waste generated by single-use products. Cigarette butts cleaning costs California public agencies as much as $41 million a year.

"Tobacco product filters have created a public health and environmental crisis for over half a century, which has intensified in recent years as the tobacco industry has begun selling vaping products," Rivas said. "Our planet is at a critical juncture. Point, cigarette filters, unlike other waste waste, can destroy our environment, toxic chemicals found in vaping product filters can seep into our fragile ecosystems, and harmful fumes can also damage individual health.”

The proposal does not mention the effective date of the ban.