California Requires Plastics Makers to Foot the Bill for Recycling

One of the most ambitious statewide attempts to reduce dependence on plastic is the requirement that makers of packaging pay for recycling.

The law, signed by California's governor on Thursday, is the fourth of its kind to be passed by a state, and it goes further in requiring producers to both make less plastic and to ensure that all single-use products are recyclable or composted. Maine and Oregon became the first two states in the country to pass producer-responsibility laws.

The laws state that the costs of recycling will be shifted to packaging manufacturers and away from taxpayers.

All single-use packaging, including paper and metals, must be recycled or composted by 2032. This is important when it comes to plastic products which are more difficult to recycle. It is difficult for people to figure out which plastic is recycled and which isn't.

California will be the first state to require a 25 percent reduction in all plastic packaging sold in the state.

Brandon is a policy analyst at the Ocean Conservancy and a contributor to the text of the bill. The first bill in the country to address both issues is this one.

In the fight against climate change, recycling is crucial. At a time when the world needs to wean itself from fossil fuels to avoid the worst consequences of global warming, there are concerns that a growing global market for plastic made from fossil fuels could support demand for oil. The plastics industry is expected to consume 20% of all oil by the year 2050.

The Ocean Conservancy estimates that the new California law will eliminate 23 million tons of plastic in the next 10 years.

Under the state law, manufacturers would pay for recycling programs and will be charged fees based on the weight of packaging, the ease of recycling and whether products contain toxic substances, such as PFAS, which have been linked to increased risk of some cancers.

Other attempts have been made to improve recycling. In September of last year, California became the first state to bar companies from using the "chasing arrows" symbol unless they could prove that the material is actually recycled.

The law requires plastic manufacturers to pay $5 billion into a fund over the next 10 years to help mitigate the effects of plastic pollution in low-income communities.

Ben Allen, a Democratic state senator and author of the bill, said that plastic waste has been a growing burden for humans, animals, and the water, soil, and air.

California has the largest economy of any state and is also a major global economy. The law could have an effect on packaging used nationwide because of it's size. According to Dylan de Thomas, head of the policy team at The Recycling Partnership, manufacturers don't make packaging for a single state. You are going to have a stronger recycling system because packaging will be recycled elsewhere.

The bill was supported by the comparative buy-in from industry groups. The American chemistry council said that the law would work to eliminate plastic waste.

Plastic packaging producer responsibility laws have been introduced in a number of states. Many states and cities have banned the use of single-use plastic bags. Initially, the California legislation avoids banning everything. Polystyrene could be banned if they don't meet certain rates of recycling.

The law could lead to refill stations for detergents and beverages, according to recycling advocates. We would like producers to think about whether or not they need to wrap cucumbers in two to three layers of film. Ms. Brandon spoke.