California's New Law Aims to Reduce Plastic Pollution and Increase Recycling

 Californians discard about 15,000 tons of plastic into landfills daily, with packaging accounting for over 50% of total waste. Advocates are hopeful that a new law, SB 54, will change this by requiring significant reductions in plastic packaging and foodware, and a dramatic increase in packaging recycling. The law, signed by Governor Gavin Newson in 2022, mandates that all single-use packaging and plastic food service ware be recyclable or compostable by 2032, with a 25% reduction in single-use plastic packaging and a 65% recycling rate for these materials. Non-compliance will result in fines up to $50,000 per day.
CalRecycle is holding public workshops to gather input from industry, local jurisdictions, environmental organizations, and the public for a project requiring regulations and infrastructure expansion by Jan. 1, 2025.