First-Person Perspective: Key Developments In California's Plastic Laws

Environmental attorneys Sedina Banks, Sherry Jackman, and Bryce Lourié authored an article in Resource Recycling titled "First-person perspective: Key developments in California's plastic laws." They discuss howCalifornia is leading sustainability efforts with new laws that hold producers responsible for reducing packaging waste and improvingrecycling standards.

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California continues to be a leader in sustainability with the passage of a series of laws aimed at increasing diversion, waste reduction and consumer knowledge.

In 2022, California enacted Senate Bill 54, or the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act. SB 54 is an extended producer responsibility law aimed at reducing plastic and packaging waste and shifting the cost of recycling this material from the consumer back to the producer. This is done primarily by establishing a framework for development of a producer responsibility organization, an entity which