City input needed for rollout of state’s plastic pollution prevention law
By Melissa Sparks-Kranz, legislative advocate (environmental quality)
Cities can provide input on the rollout of California’s plastic pollution prevention law, SB 54 (Allen, 2022), to the Circular Action Alliance through November. The group is hosting a webinar series for cities, counties, and other stakeholders as part of the implementation process.
The Circular Action Alliance is an organization representing producers — approved and regulated by CalRecycle — tasked with phasing out single-use packaging and foodware in California. Costs incurred by local governments must be recovered by producers, who are ultimately responsible for the program.
The alliance will develop a plan and budget over the next year. Local government input will be essential to the program’s success.
To kick off the series, the alliance is hosting an introductory webinar on the Circular Action Alliance and SB 54’s background specifically for cities and counties. After the introductory webinar, the alliance will host a series of consultations — 11 webinars throughout October and November. The series is intended to gather input on how the program will be implemented, in coordination with local governments, including covered costs and materials, local government reimbursement cost collection analysis, and other compliance strategies.
Championed by Sen. Ben Allen in 2022, SB 54 is a landmark law that requires producers, by 2032, to take responsibility for plastic and packaging materials by:
- Changing the design of products to be recyclable and compostable.
- Ensuring materials can be safely reused, recycled, or disposed.
- Covering the costs of implementing SB 54 in local waste management programs.
- Funding a statewide mitigation fund.
For more information about the Circular Action Alliance, please visit circularactionalliance.org/california. For information about CalRecycle’s oversight and regulations on SB 54, go to calrecycle.ca.gov/packaging/packaging-epr/.