Hotels in the US are beginning to phase out single-use toiletry bottles

Arguably the greatest thing about a hotel stay isn’t the fresh sheets or soft towels – nope, it's the thrill of filling your suitcase with as many hotel freebies you can fit before checkout.  

If you’re the kind of traveller who's mad for free gear, you might be sad to know one of your favourite hotel perks is being phased out.

Hotels are ditching mini shampoo, conditioner and body wash bottles from guest bathrooms in a bid to reduce single-use plastic waste. In fact, Members of California’s state assembly are attempting to ban the tiny bottles entirely, arguing that they’re terrible for the environment.

"We know we have an enormous problem with our world, we've become addicted to [plastic] and it’s caused a major dilemma environmentally," Assemblyman Ash Kalra, who introduced Bill AB-1162 – The California Global Warming Solutions Act – in February, told ABC News.

According to the proposed legislation – which would go into effect in 2030 – hotels across California will be prohibited from providing guests with any "small plastic bottle containing a personal care product," and would be issued a fine of $697 (US$500) per violation.

However, it’s a small price to pay for a healthier planet.