Senate committee hears testimony on bill to ban single-use plastic water bottles in Lake Tahoe watershed

Senators on the Nevada Senate Committee on Natural Resources heard extended testimony on SB324, a bill to prohibit the sale of single‑use plastic water bottles within the Lake Tahoe watershed and to assign enforcement to local health authorities under an amendment. Senator Melanie Scheibel, sponsor of the bill, said the prohibition aims “to help keep Lake Tahoe the pristine national treasure that it is” by reducing bottle litter near the lake.

The bill would allow Nevada to ban sale of single‑use plastic water bottles within the Lake Tahoe watershed; under a sponsor amendment, enforcement would be administered by local health districts rather than the attorney general and a civil fine schedule was added. Noah Banayan, government affairs manager at the League to Save Lake Tahoe, told the committee the organization’s beach‑cleanup data show water bottles and caps are the top plastic litter item, citing removal of more than 2,000 bottles and 4,000 caps during volunteer cleanups in 2023–24. Gavin Feiger, policy director at the League to Save Lake Tahoe, said audits in South Lake Tahoe after a local ban found compliance and reported a 50% reduction in bottles at one popular beach on July 4 and a roughly 25% reduction across the South Shore during summer 2024.

Supporters, including former South Lake Tahoe Mayor David Middlebrook, the Nevada Conservation League, Sierra Club, and tourism interests from Incline Village and Crystal Bay, said the bill aligns lakewide policy and cited the League’s audit showing about 84% compliance among businesses where a municipal ban is already in place. Tristan St. Denis of the Nevada Conservation League said microplastics do not biodegrade and urged passage for public‑health and environmental reasons.

Opponents included the International Bottled Water Association, the American Beverage Association and the nonalcoholic beverage industry. David Thorpe of the American Beverage Association said the industry is reducing plastic use, increasing recycled content, and that PET bottles are designed for bottle‑to‑bottle recycling; he said bans do not address illegal littering and could harm local retailers. Kate Krebs, a recycling consultant, testified that PET used in bottled water is the most recyclable polymer and urged investment in collection and recycling infrastructure rather than point‑of‑sale prohibitions.

Several business and hospitality representatives testified neutral or in support after an amendment; Caesars Entertainment said it takes a neutral position pending the amendment. Industry witnesses raised concerns about cross‑border sales, supply chain impacts for small producers, emergency access to bottled water, and the relative environmental footprint of alternative packaging such as boxed water and aluminum. Proponents said businesses can still sell canned or boxed water and highlighted voluntary action by Nevada businesses including Alibi Ale Works, Tahoe Blue Event Center, and Edgewood Resort.

The committee received public testimony both in person and by phone. Toby Tyler, a Tahoe resident, cited a scientific study published in Nature reporting elevated microplastic levels in Lake Tahoe. Opponents submitted written testimony arguing that increasing recycling and collection would be a more effective approach.

The hearing record shows robust discussion but no committee vote on final passage during the session. Senator Scheibel said she remains open to further amendments to build broader support.

Ending: The committee closed the hearing on SB324 after taking support, opposition and neutral testimony. The sponsor will consider further outreach and possible amendments before the bill’s next steps in the legislative process.