California's Zero Waste Plan
California is implementing policy and legislative changes to drive the state to zero waste by reducing, reusing, repairing, and recycling resources.
- The Zero Waste Plan sets a path to close existing program gaps, identify what’s working, and recommend what’s needed for a truly circular economy.
- Equity and inclusion are priorities as we redesign systems toward zero waste.
California is building a comprehensive, circular strategy to reduce and reuse all materials. The Zero Waste Plan is due for publication in 2026.
Although California has collected for recycling:
Over 40
million tons
of waste
still goes to landfills a year.
We can do more and build new and expanded circular systems to use these materials better.
Baseline Report
CalRecycle published the Baseline Report for the Zero Waste Plan on July 1, 2024. The report evaluates the effectiveness of the department’s programs and identifies programmatic and departmentwide changes needed to improve these programs.
Early draft principles for a zero waste plan include:
- Overcome barriers to reach all mandates.
- Address gaps and overlaps in current systems.
- Identify the full lifecycle of materials to reduce waste.
- Minimize impacts of waste on the environment, public health, and disadvantaged communities.
- Maximize the environmental, social, and economic benefits of a circular, waste-free economy.
- Grow California’s circular economy infrastructure and responsible end markets.
Timeline
July 2024
Baseline Report to the Legislature
7/1/24
August 2024
Public Workshop
8/14/24
Aug-Sept 2024
Public Input Survey
Tribal and EJ Listening Sessions
January 2025
March 2025
Listening Sessions
January 2026
Zero Waste Plan to Legislature
1/1/26
US EPA Pages
The US EPA website has additional resources on zero waste, including how other communities have defined zero waste.