California To Ban Single Use Plastic Bathroom Miniatures From 2023/24

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law a ban on single use plastic bathroom miniatures that will go into effect on the following dates:

  • Hotels with more than 50 rooms from 2023
  • Hotels with less than 50 rooms from 2024

Hotels that violate this law will be fined $500 for their first offense and $2,000 for additional violations. Major hotel brands Marriott & IHG have already pledged to remove bathroom miniatures from hotels before the 2023 deadline. I’ve said before that I think these changes are sensible and it makes sense to reduce this type of waste where possible. Others have concerns regarding tampering and also allege that this is just a cost cutting exercise for hotel chains.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

152 Comments
newest
oldest most voted

Danno
Danno (@guest_824116)
October 12, 2019 17:27

Just a heads up, if miniature shampoos are visibly unused, they usually get left there. People have been putting bodily fluids in the little bottles you guys have been swooping up to bring home for years. If you think anything in your hotel room literally can’t be tampered with, you’re painfully naive. Gross people can and do find ways to do gross things. That’s life, deal with it. Good on California and these companies. It literally changes nothing, and might help. And if they save money by reducing trash, who cares? Is their bottom line so important to you people that you’d rather they lose some more money than do something good for the earth? What a bizarre world-view.

Azurik
Azurik (@guest_823990)
October 12, 2019 11:00

It’s fascinating how many people are against this and call this a liberal Californian thing. If you think banning single-use plastic is taking a toll on our first-world lives, you’re due for a serious wake-up call.

The rate we are using resources is neither sustainable or viable. One day, when it’s too late to reverse course, we’ll look back at this and other similar bans as the easiest thing we could have done without so much fanfare.

It probably won’t happen in our lifetimes, but I wonder what the reaction will be with:

– showering once a week
– complete ban on watering grass
– rationed meat eating
– no fossil fuels
– houses/apartments smaller than 1,000 sq ft
– limited amount of outfits/shoes
– mandatory recycling
– ban on most plastics – revert back to glass

We live a privileged life, even those in the bottom 20% of U.S. incomes.

Gly
Gly (@guest_823845)
October 11, 2019 23:06

No concerns about sanitation?

meed18
meed18 (@guest_822967)
October 11, 2019 09:44

Glad it is specific to plastic. I prefer bar soap to body wash and it is way more economical and environmentally friendly.

Nick
Nick (@guest_822843)
October 11, 2019 08:15

I’m OK with this as long as the dispensers are tamper-proof (which it seems many are. You could have an unscrupulous housekeeper do things, but they could do the same with the miniatures). The only downside will be that shelters often ask for the miniatures as donations (which I collect on my trips and donate) so they will have to find other sources at their expense for toiletries.

DK
DK (@guest_823087)
October 11, 2019 10:50

Why can’t they use tamper proof dispensers as well?

imnotashopaholic
imnotashopaholic (@guest_822705)
October 11, 2019 02:55

I don’t get how the use of miniatures prevents tempering. It’s probably even easier to put whatever liquid into those small shampoo bottles since none of them have temper-proof seals. If you are really concerned about tempering, bring your own or just use soap.

Jiasus
Jiasus (@guest_822636)
October 11, 2019 01:55

yea just turn that f-ing AC off when u leave your freaking houses would do much more.

Matt
Matt (@guest_822637)
October 11, 2019 01:56

Why not both?

Geo
Geo (@guest_822701)
October 11, 2019 02:53

Please shower before sitting next to me on a plane, Matt. And use deoderant. That’s a good start.

DK
DK (@guest_822935)
October 11, 2019 09:26

There’s a decent bit of information that we could simply stop beef farming completely and it would have a bigger impact than if everyone drove electric cars.

Vy
Vy (@guest_824286)
October 13, 2019 01:45
  DK

That’s kind of the point.

If everyone did what they wanted to with wanton disregard, nothing would ever improve.

Newbie
Newbie (@guest_822563)
October 11, 2019 01:21

BYOB, period.

Bill
Bill (@guest_822290)
October 10, 2019 23:57

Can’t they provide the shampoo in glass bottles, just like Johnnie Walker on the airlines?

Hopefully shatterproof…

Gadget 🕵️
Gadget 🕵️ (@guest_822491)
October 11, 2019 00:51

Glass bottles in a bathroom and shower… probably not going to happen.

Titanium steel bottles, maybe…. and on your next trip they will add the newly enacted Steel/biodegradable Toiletries Surcharge of $9/day, just above the resort fee. /s

(opening a can of worms)

Ethan
Ethan (@guest_822178)
October 10, 2019 22:34

Hotel miniatures are trash anyways. They’re awful products that are terrible for your hair and skin. Good job California for making easy moves in the right direction. Bring your own toiletries.