Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act

SB 54

Program News

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
For information on the regulation process, visit the rulemaking webpage.
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:

Upcoming Events

October 25th, 2024
Advisory Board Meeting
Agenda/Public Notice

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

Attend in person or online:

Zoom
Webcast

November 1st, 2024
Advisory Board Meeting
Agenda/Public Notice

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: CalEPA Headquarters, Byron Sher Auditorium (2nd floor)
1001 “I” St., Sacramento, CA 95814

Attend in person or online:

Zoom
Webcast

Sign up for our listserv to receive updates on SB 54 implementation.

Past Events

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

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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.

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