Senate Bill 54, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, was passed in 2022 with regulations approved just this year. Recently, Circular Action Alliance (CAA) released their draft Producer Responsibility Organization Plan (PRO Plan), detailing exactly how producers plan to adhere to the regulations and how the regulations will affect our local jurisdictions.

You may be wondering how SB 54 will shake up the local recycling industry. We have already seen some changes in our Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs aka recycling centers) and stores due to expanding recycling markets as a result of SB 54. Here we share 2 changes you may or may not have noticed. 

• Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foodware is essentially banned in California as of January 1, 2025. Senate Bill 54 set strict recycling rate standards for polystyrene single-use foodware, requiring a state-wide 25% recycling rate. When surveying existing recycling programs, it was found that polystyrene was effectively recycled at less than 5% of MRFs in California, leading to the ban of the products sale until recycling rates are met. 
• Carton Recycling Pilot Program- our local MRF has begun to accept cartons for the recycle bin as part of a pilot program to test the recyclability of these items. This material is being recovered and turned into roofing cover boards. 

A previous Sort Report Packaging Face-Off article had a battle of the milk containers, now those containers are closer than ever to harmoniously being recycled in our local facilities! You can read our previous article here.