Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act

SB 54

 

 

CalRecycle is accepting written comments through 5:00 p.m. PST on Thursday, December 19, 2024, for the Draft Program Environmental Impact Report for the SB 54 regulations.

Program News

Upcoming Events

December 13th, 2024
Advisory Board Meeting
Agenda/Public Notice

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: CalEPA HQ, Coastal Hearing Room (2nd floor)
1001 “I” St., Sacramento, CA 95814

Attend in person or online:

November 19th, 2024
Public Hearing for Draft PEIR
Agenda/Public Notice

Time: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: CalEPA HQ, Byron Sher Auditorium (2nd floor)
1001 “I” St., Sacramento, CA 95814

Attend in person or online:

Past Events

Packaging makes up over 50% of what we dump in California landfills by volume.

We must reduce packaging waste and ensure it is recycled to meet our state’s recycling and climate goals.

On June 30, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 54 (Allen, Chapter 75, Statutes of 2022) into law to address the impacts of single-use packaging and plastic food service ware. This landmark packaging law requires that by 2032 we:

Cut By

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%

Single-use plastic:

  • Packaging and
  • Food ware

Recycle

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%

Of single-use plastic:

  • Packaging and
  • Food ware

Ensure

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%

Of single-use:

  • Packaging
  • Plastic food ware

Is recyclable or compostable

The law shifts the plastic pollution burden from consumers to producers by raising $5 billion from industry members over 10 years.
This will:  

  • Cut plastic pollution and
  • Support disadvantaged, low-income, and rural communities hurt most by the impacts of plastic waste. 

Producers Play a Strategic Role in Building a Truly Circular Economyimage of bags and single use


SB 54 establishes a new extended producer responsibility (EPR) program to manage packaging and single-use plastic food ware products across every sector of the economy.

Producers will ensure that the packaging and plastic food ware sold in California is recyclable or compostable.

EPR gives primary responsibility for managing products after their useful life to producers, who can design and market products to be more easily reused or recycled.

EPR can encourage product design changes to:

  • Ensure products are easily reused or recycled.
  • Minimize negative impacts on public health and the environment at every stage of the product’s lifecycle.

Needs Assessment

Public Resources Code Section 42067 requires CalRecycle to develop a statewide needs assessment collaboratively.

Information from this needs assessment will guide the Producer Responsibility Organization’s budget and plan detailing how California will meet the packaging and plastic pollution reduction goals of SB 54.

Explore Needs Assessment

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Advisory Board

 

CalRecycle’s director appointed an advisory board to identify barriers and solutions to creating a circular economy and advise the producer responsibility organizations, producers, and the department in implementing this new law. 

Explore Advisory Board

SB 54 Covered Material Categories List

Material regulated by SB 54 (called “covered material”) includes single-use packaging and single-use plastic food service ware [Public Resources Code Section 42061(e)].

CalRecycle must publish a list of covered material categories by July 1, 2024.

 

Explore CMC List

Producer Responsibility Organizations

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Create Programs

 

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Increase Recycling

 

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Cut Trash Pollution in Disadvantaged Communities

 

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Enroll Manufacturers

 

null Pay All Implementation Costs

 

 

 

CalRecycle

 

null Oversees Program

 

null Appoints Advisory Board

 

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Researches Packaging Waste Types

 

null Reviews Plan and Budget

 

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Publishes Recyclable or Compostable Material Categories List

null Calculates and Publishes Recycling Rates for Covered Materials

CalRecycle activities detailed timeline.

To stay informed on the latest information on the Packaging EPR rulemaking process and issues, sign up for email updates by joining the SB 54: Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (Packaging EPR) listserv.

Timeline

In 2022, Governor Newsom signed SB 54 into law. In 2023, CalRecycle appointed members of the advisory board.

a collection of take-out food containers and bags

2024

  • Published list of recyclable or compostable categories
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2025

  • Adopt SB 54 regulations
  • CalRecycle’s first biennial progress report to the Legislature
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2026

  • Publish recycling rates by January 1, 2026
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2028

  • 30% of single-use plastic packaging and food ware recycled

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2030

  • 40% of single-use plastic packaging and food ware recycled
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2032

  • 65% of single-use plastic packaging and food ware recycled
  • 25% Less sold
  • 100% of packaging and single-use plastic food ware is recyclable or compostable

Contact

Submit non-media questions about the program to Packaging@CalRecycle.ca.gov.

For media inquiries OPA@CalRecycle.ca.gov.