Bill > AB973

This bill aims to update California's recycling regulations for plastic packaging and products by establishing a new comprehensive program to increase the use of postconsumer recycled content in plastic products. Starting July 1, 2026, manufacturers of covered plastic products (including rigid plastic containers, rigid plastic products, and film plastics) will be required to register annually with the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery and pay a registration charge. By January 1, 2028, manufacturers must ensure that their products contain at least 30% postconsumer recycled content by weight, with some variations for specific product categories like rigid plastic containers (25%) and plastic trash bags (10%). The bill introduces third-party certification requirements beginning January 1, 2029, and allows manufacturers to apply for two-year waivers under certain circumstances, such as technological limitations or supply constraints. Manufacturers who fail to meet the recycled content requirements will be subject to administrative civil penalties, which start at 40 cents per pound of virgin material used. The legislation also includes provisions for confidential information protection, reporting requirements, and the continued use of the Rigid Container Account to support recycling infrastructure and market development. The bill's broader goals include reducing energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and reliance on virgin fossil fuels while creating jobs in the recycling sector.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB973