SB 54 Covered Material Categories List

Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act

Material regulated by the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (called “covered material”) includes single-use packaging and single-use plastic food service ware (Public Resources Code (PRC) section 42061(e))
CalRecycle published a list containing categories of covered materials on July 1, 2024. 
[PRC section 42061(a)(1)]
Each covered material category describes a combination of:
- Material type and
- Form
Covered material categories fall within one of five material classes, which are then further broken down by material type and form:
- Glass
- Ceramic
- Metal
- Paper and Fiber
- Plastic
- Wood and Other Organics

CalRecycle must:
- Calculate and publish recycling rates achieved in the state for each CMC by January 1, 2026 (PRC section 42061(b)(1))
- Publish CMCs deemed recyclable or compostable by January 1, 2024, and update the evaluations at least annually (PRC sections 42061(c), 42061(d), and 42061(e)).

Timeline

Publish the list of Covered Material Categories deemed recyclable or compostable.

Publish a general list of all Covered Material Categories.

Update evaluations of compostability and recyclability.

And annually thereafter.

Calculate and publish recycling rates for each Covered Material Category.

For more information contact: Packaging@calrecycle.ca.gov