AF&PA Testimony Opposes Ban on Providing Paper Receipts

Stewart Holm, Chief Scientist at AF&PA, in his testimony before the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality, spoke in opposition to A.B. 161.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has testified against the California State Assembly efforts to prohibit businesses from providing paper receipts to consumers at point-of-purchase, except upon request by the consumer. Stewart Holm, Chief Scientist at AF&PA, in his testimony before the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality, spoke in opposition to A.B. 161.

Accordign to Holm, the environmental and health concerns about paper receipts, repeatedly raided by the proponents of the bill, are simply not true. Paper receipts have scientifically proved to be safe for consumers and point-of-sale employees. The claims to the contrary are irresponsible and will only help to frighten the public. There has been no health risks associated with exposure to paper receipts. In fact, paper receipts are an environmentally responsible option, Holm stated.

The Prop 65 list, which provides warnings to Californians about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive damages, does not include paper receipts. The implementation of the bill would cause unnecessary burden to local business owners and consumers in the name of ban that lacks scientific foundation.

Holm noted that, if the bill’s supporters were truly concerned about alleged health hazards of paper receipts, state lottery tickets, parking tickets, boarding passes and other government receipt documentation would not have been exempted from the bill. 

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