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California Lawmaker Wants to Ban Paper Receipts, Require Digital Ones (cnbc.com)
A California assemblyman has introduced a law barring retailers from printing paper receipts unless a customer requests one. Otherwise they'd be required to provide proof-or-purchase receipts "only in electronic form."
: An anonymous reader quotes CNBC: Stores that give out printed receipts without first being asked by the customer could be subject to fines [of $25 per day, up to $300 per year].... Proponents of the bill say the legislation would help reduce waste as well as contaminants in the recycling stream from toxins often used to coat the paper-based receipts... Up to 10 million trees and 21 billion gallons of water are used annually in the U.S. to create receipts, according to Green America, a green ecology organization. It said receipts annually generate 686 million pounds of waste and 12 billion pounds of carbon dioxide, or the equivalent of 1 million cars on the road...
Then again, the use of electronic receipts raises some privacy concerns since retailers usually require an email address for an electronic receipt and companies will then be able to potentially track and collect more data about customers.
If the bill passes, digital receipts would become California's default option on January 1, 2022.
: An anonymous reader quotes CNBC: Stores that give out printed receipts without first being asked by the customer could be subject to fines [of $25 per day, up to $300 per year].... Proponents of the bill say the legislation would help reduce waste as well as contaminants in the recycling stream from toxins often used to coat the paper-based receipts... Up to 10 million trees and 21 billion gallons of water are used annually in the U.S. to create receipts, according to Green America, a green ecology organization. It said receipts annually generate 686 million pounds of waste and 12 billion pounds of carbon dioxide, or the equivalent of 1 million cars on the road...
Then again, the use of electronic receipts raises some privacy concerns since retailers usually require an email address for an electronic receipt and companies will then be able to potentially track and collect more data about customers.
If the bill passes, digital receipts would become California's default option on January 1, 2022.
You know, the more I hear of stories like this out of California, the more I think Lex Luthor had the right idea in 1978 Superman movie.
Beware of Sales Reps bearing gifts.
Ok, so they're going to force everyone to have a smart phone or laptop to bring to the store or other locations as proof of purchase?
Do they think everyone has one or can afford to have one?
Is that better than a small piece of paper, both recyclable and convenient?
Is receipt waste a big issue in California?
Are they really thinking this through?
Paper is WAY more polluting than electronics. Because paper is non biodegrade and smart phones just recycle easily. I composted my iPad into my garden last year. I felt so Gaia. What a great idea!
This bill brought to you by Apple Google. They can't wait to sell you LOTS of things to bring this in to compliance.
I found some thermal receipts the other day from 2013 - they're all fine. The new ones disappear in six months.
Somebody told me it's because of a BPA ban, but I'm not sure. I haven't tried eating any of the new ones.
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)