Last year, the Legislature enacted sweeping legislation to reduce the use and increase recycling of single-use packaging and plastic food service ware.
SB 54 (Allen) marked a paradigm shift in which manufacturers of single-use packaging and food service ware must take responsibility for the management and recycling of the products they introduce into the stream of commerce. Traditionally, local governments have borne the full responsibility for achieving the state’s solid waste management and recycling directives, so SB 54 is transformative in that respect. The measure is clear that manufacturers bear responsibility for costs incurred by local agencies and recycling service providers associated with the collection, storage, handling, and marketing of covered products.
CalRecycle held their first SB 54 Informational Meeting on January 31, 2023. That meeting provided an overview of how the regulatory process will work, implementation timelines, and how to get involved. CalRecycle noted that they will soon start the process of selecting members of the SB 54 Advisory Board, which will include one representative nominated by a statewide rural county association.
Interested stakeholders can join CalRecycle’s SB 54 listserv to receive notice of future meetings and publications.
For more information, contact RCRC Policy Advocate, John Kennedy.