California’s new plastic recycling rules spark fights from all sides
Environmental groups say the rules leave loopholes, while producers face a June deadline to submit plans and $5 billion in fees over a decade.
- California finalized regulations on May 1 for its landmark single-use plastic law, but the new rules immediately drew criticism from both environmental advocates and packaging industry representatives.
- Signed in 2022 by Governor Gavin Newsom, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act mandates that packaging producers reduce plastic usage and make all food packaging recyclable or compostable by 2032.
- Environmental advocates, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, argue the regulations create "huge loopholes" by permitting certain forms of "chemical recycling" and allowing some foodware products to avoid timely review.
- Last week, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Californians Against Waste announced plans to take California to court, arguing the state's rules permit recycling methods that produce toxic waste.
- CalRecycle estimates meeting the law's first goal—a 25% reduction in single-use plastic by 2032—could cost up to $15.4 billion, while producers must join an organization and pay fees to fund waste management.
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19 Articles
Food delivered by Feeding San Diego, Emmanuel Faith Community Church, along with other churches and community members, during a food distribution in Escondido on October 30, 2025. Photo by Ariana Drehsler for CalMatters. This article was originally published by CalMatters. This article is also available in English. Read it here. California has set the nation's most ambitious deadline for plastic recycling. Now, both environmental advocates and p…
Associated Press News
California’s new plastic recycling rules spark fights from all sides
California just gave plastic producers until 2032 to make all their packaging recyclable or compostable — the most ambitious deadline in the country.
California's single-use plastic law is facing backlash from all sides: 'These new rules create huge loopholes'
California's landmark single-use plastic law is already facing pushback from pretty much every side. As The Los Angeles Times reported, only days after California's single-use plastic law took effect, environmental groups, anti-waste advocates, and packaging industry representatives all said the state's approach could create serious new problems for residents, local governments, and the environment. What's happening? California's single-use plas…
California’s New Plastic Recycling Rules Spark Fights from All Sides - Sonoma Valley Sun
by Alejandra Reyes-Velarde This article was originally published by CalMatters California just gave plastic producers until 2032 to make all their packaging recyclable or compostable — the most ambitious deadline in the country. Advocates say it doesn’t go far enough. Producers say it goes too far. At least one of them is threatening to sue. The
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