Monterey Bay Aquarium, Ocean Conservancy, and Oceana Applaud Milestone in Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act Implementation
Leading ocean protection organizations strongly support adoption of regulations to solidify the United States’ boldest plastic reduction law and mark California as a global leader in addressing the plastic pollution crisis
Press Release Date: December 19, 2024
Location: Sacramento, Calif.
Contact:
Ashley Blacow | email: ablacow@oceana.org | tel: 1.831.643.9220
Following nine months of formal rulemaking, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has completed the public comment periods for the draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Report and regulations to implement the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packing Responsibility Act of 2022 (SB 54, Allen). In June 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom described SB 54 as the “most significant overhaul of California’s plastics and packaging recycling policy in history,” which “goes further than any other state on cutting plastics production at the source and continues to build a circular economy that is necessary to combat climate change.”
In response to reaching this milestone, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Ocean Conservancy, and Oceana jointly issued the following statement:
“Scientists estimate that some 11 million metric tons of plastics enter the ocean every year, and Ocean Conservancy scientists have calculated that SB 54’s source reduction requirement alone will eliminate 23 million tons of plastics over the next 10 years, helping prevent plastic pollution at the source.
“Several peer-reviewed studies have revealed no discernible impact on consumer prices associated with programs like SB 54. This landmark legislation is an effort by the state to address the rising costs of curbside collection, shouldered by consumers and small businesses, associated with packaging waste. California communities are estimated to spend more than $428 million annually to clean up and control plastic pollution, in addition to the countless costs associated with the human health impacts of plastic pollution, which are borne disproportionately by plastic-burdened communities.
“We are excited that California is at this juncture, and the state’s continued leadership now is critical. California is the pace-setter, and an example for the rest of the world on how to work together to reduce plastic production and protect the health of our communities and environment.
“These regulations are a step in the right direction to achieve the ambitious goals of SB 54. We strongly support adoption and thank CalRecycle staff, the SB 54 Advisory Board, and other stakeholders for investing so much of their time, dedication, and expertise throughout the rulemaking process.”
About SB 54:
California Senator Allen led years of negotiation amongst stakeholders and policymakers to develop SB 54, which holds producers accountable to meeting key packaging reduction, recycling, and composting mandates and requires them to bear the cost of their packaging decisions through their full life cycle. Ocean Conservancy, Oceana, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium supported the negotiated SB 54 in lieu of a qualified initiative that would otherwise have been on the November 2022 ballot.
On June 30, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 54, which will cut plastic packaging and foodware by 25 percent over 10 years, require all packaging in the state to be recyclable or compostable by 2032, and requiring 65 percent of all single-use plastic packaging and foodware to be recycled in the same timeframe. Additionally, the legislation shifts the burden from consumers and local governments to industry to pay for the full lifecycle of their materials and additionally requires plastic producers to pay $5 billion over 10 years to help address plastic pollution and support disadvantaged communities hurt most by the damaging effects of plastic.
Timeline/Key Dates:
June 30, 2022 The legislature passed and Gov. Newsom signed Senate Bill 54
into law. Proponents of a qualified ballot measure withdrew it given
the negotiated legislation’s enactment
March 8, 2024 CalRecycle published the first draft of SB 54 regulations
January 1, 2025 Barring evidence submitted to CalRecycle by this date proving that
all expanded polystyrene (plastic foam) packaging and food ware
meets a 25% recycling rate, it becomes illegal for anyone to
continue to sell plastic foam foodware in the state
March 8, 2025 Deadline for CalRecycle to submit a final rulemaking package to
the Office of Administrative Law
