Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act

SB 54

CalRecycle is accepting written comments on proposed revisions to SB 54 regulations through Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.

Submit Comments

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

Submit Comments

Program News

On Dec. 2, 2024, CalRecycle notified the public it has begun a second 15-day comment period that ends Dec. 17, 2024, for the SB 54 permanent rulemaking.
On Nov. 4, 2024, CalRecycle released a Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for public review and comment through Dec. 19, 2024.
On Oct. 25, 2024, CalRecycle notified the public that it has extended the deadline for written public comments on proposed revisions to the SB 54 permanent regulations to Nov 4, 2024, for the comment period that began Oct. 14, 2024.
On Sept. 10 and 11, 2024, CalRecycle notified entities that may be producers of expanded polystyrene (plastic foam) food service ware, and relevant industry groups, of a legal requirement deadline [PRC 42057(I)].
- To continue selling plastic foam food service ware in the state, producers must prove that all expanded polystyrene packaging and food ware meets a 25% recycling rate as of Jan. 1, 2025.
CalRecycle has published the July 1, 2024, Update to Covered Material Categories (CMCs) [PRC 42061(a)(1)]
- List of CMCs
Circular Action Alliance has been approved to serve as the first Producer Responsibility Organization. (Section 42061.5 of the Public Resources Code)
- CAA’s Applicant Package
CalRecycle released four SB 54 implementation documents on Dec. 28, 2023, including:
- Draft Regulatory Text (for the most recent version, visit the rulemaking webpage)
- Covered Material Categories List (with categories deemed recyclable or compostable)
- Covered Material Categories Supplemental Material
- SB 54 Report to the Legislature

Upcoming Events

Dec. 13, 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:

Zoom
Webcast

January 17, 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:

Zoom
Webcast

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

%

Single-use plastic:

Packaging and
Food ware

Recycle

%

Of single-use plastic:

Packaging and
Food ware

Ensure

%

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.

Get Email Updates About SB 54: Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act

See all CalRecycle lists and previous messages.

Californians Throw Away

290
Olympic pools worth of plastic a day

Producers Play a Strategic Role in Building a Truly Circular Economy

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

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