Accurate Recycling Labels
Many Californians rely on products’ chasing arrows symbol to tell if it’s recyclable. Until 2021, California did not set specific criteria to use chasing arrows recycling logo.
Lawmakers enacted SB 343 (Allen, Chapter 507, Statues of 2021), which prohibits use of the chasing arrows or any other indicator of recyclability on products and packaging unless certain criteria are met.
Increasing recycling in California first requires accurate labels on recyclables.
Identifies What Gets Recycled
SB 343 directs CalRecycle to publish data about the types of materials actually recycled in California. Manufacturers and other interested parties must use that information as part of their assessment of whether products can be considered recyclable for labeling purposes. The law outlaws manufacturers and others from selling products or packaging labeled as recyclable unless the items are regularly collected and processed for recycling in the state.
This will:
- Help vendors and consumers make informed decisions about products
- Provide an objective basis for holding manufacturers, distributors, and retailers responsible for misleading consumers about whether products get recycled
Program News
- CalRecycle released in December 2024 the SB 343 Material Characterization Study Revised Preliminary Findings Report, an update to the initial preliminary findings released on December 28, 2023.
- CalRecycle hosted a formal Public Meeting to present the SB 343 Material Characterization Study Revised Preliminary Findings on February 3, 2025. See the public meeting notice for the agenda and slides.
- CalRecycle will publish the final findings report no later than April 4, 2025.
Steps to Identify What’s Recyclable
Often referred to by industry stakeholders as the “Truth in Recycling” or “Truth in Labeling” law, SB 343 required CalRecycle to complete two major steps by January 1, 2024.
Step 1. Study of What Gets Recycled (Material Characterization Studies)
- CalRecycle commissioned a statewide analysis at material recovery facilities in 2023 to identify which materials are commonly collected, sorted, sold, or transferred for recycling in California.
- CalRecycle published a draft of its preliminary findings on December 28, 2023. CalRecycle held an informational session on February 13, 2024.
- CalRecycle published revised preliminary findings on December 31, 2024. CalRecycle held a formal public meeting on February 3, 2025.
The law also requires ongoing studies to make updates to the statewide analysis. The second study will be completed by 2027, with future studies every 5 years after that.
CalRecycle awarded the contract for the 2023 Material Recovery Facility (MRF) Recyclable Material Study, DRR22056 to Cascadia Consulting Group.
Step 2. New Reporting Requirements
CalRecycle updated regulations to require material management facilities and operations to report regularly through CalRecycle’s Recycling and Disposal Reporting System:
- How materials are collected or processed in the state
- Which material types and forms facilities recover and don’t consider contaminants
This new reporting will commence in 2025.
Implementation
of SB 343
2021
- Gov. Newsom signed SB 343 Into law
2022
- Developed methodology for study
- Request for proposals for material characterization study
2023
- Material characterization study contract awarded
- Contractor conducted fieldwork
- CalRecycle published preliminary findings on December 28, 2023
2024
- The recycling and disposal reporting regulations updated to require additional MRF reporting
- Public comments on preliminary findings received – February informational session
- Contractor conducted additional fieldwork
- CalRecycle conducting additional data collection on jurisdiction recycling programs
- CalRecycle published revised preliminary findings on December 31, 2024
2025
- CalRecycle hosted a public meeting on February 3, 2025
- Public comments on revised preliminary findings received
- CalRecycle to publish final preliminary study report in early 2025
2026
- Recyclability criteria apply to products and package manufacturing 18 months after final findings study report
2027
- Conduct and publish second material characterization study
2032
- Publish additional findings every 5 years
Provides Information to Clarify Mislabeling
Although existing laws make it illegal to use deceptive labels on products, little credible information was available to define accurate and deceptive recycling labels.
SB 343 directs CalRecycle to:
- Research what is collected and processed for recycling in California and
- Publish this information so manufacturers can accurately label products that get recycled.
Local Jurisdictions and the California Attorney General may also use this information when filing civil suits and charging monetary penalties against companies who are not labeling their products accurately. Deceptive labeling is also subject to civil suits pursuant to the Business and Professions Code.
After CalRecycle publishes each new study, manufacturers will have 18 months to ensure the updated information supports the use of the chasing arrows recycling symbol on their products.
Public Feedback
CalRecycle released the SB 343 Material Characterization Study Revised Preliminary Findings Report on December 31, 2024.
CalRecycle hosted a public meeting on February 3, 2025 to present the revised draft findings of the preliminary report and to solicit feedback on the revised draft preliminary report. The deadline to submit comments was February 18, 2025. Agenda and slides from the meeting can be found on the public meeting notice.
CalRecycle will publish the final findings report no later than April 4, 2025.
Contact Us
- For updates about SB 343 Material Characterization Study progress, subscribe to the Material Characterization Study Listserv.
- For any waste characterization studies questions, contact wastechar@calrecycle.ca.gov.
- For more information on updates to the reporting requirements for materials management facilities and operations, visit the CalRecycle Recycling and Disposal Reporting System Regulations page.
For more information contact, the Office of Public Affairs, opa@calrecycle.ca.gov