More than four years ago, on June 30, 2022, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 54 (SB 54), the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act. According to CalRecycle, SB 54 imposes minimum content requirements for single-use packaging and single-use plastic food service ware, to be achieved through an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program.
California’s landmark packaging law is the most significant overhaul of California’s plastics and packaging recycling policy in history. It goes further than any other state on cutting single-use plastic at the source and represents a giant step toward a more circular economy that is essential to combat climate change.
The law establishes California’s largest EPR program by regulating several thousand producers—as many as an estimated 5,741—whereas other California EPR programs regulate fewer than 1,000 producers.
Pollution Burdon Now on Producers
The legislation shifts the plastic pollution burden from consumers to producers, typically the companies that create—or package their products in—single-use packaging and single-use plastic food service ware. Producers must pay $5 billion over 10 years—$500 million per year beginning in 2027 to address the environmental impacts of plastic pollution, and aid affected environmental justice communities most impacted by the damaging effects of single-use plastic waste.
The law requires producers to ensure that by 2032:
- 100 percent of single-use packaging and single-use plastic food service ware sold in the state is recyclable or compostable;
- 65 percent of single-use plastic packaging and single-use food service ware is recycled; and
- 25 percent reduction, compared to 2023, in the sale or distribution of single-use plastic packaging and single-use food service ware.
The law requires CalRecycle to adopt permanent regulations.
The bill will provide for its enforcement, including authorizing the imposing of an administrative civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $50,000 per day per violation, except as specified, on any entity that is not in compliance with the act’s requirements. The bill would require the department to deposit collected penalties into the Circular Economy Penalty Account, which the bill would create. The bill would make moneys in the account available upon appropriation by the Legislature for purposes that further the act.
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Ban
Triggered by SB 54, it includes an Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Ban because last year’s 25 percent recycling goal was not met. There is now a statewide ban on selling and distributing EPS foam foodware including clamshells, cups, plates, bowls, and trays made of plastic foam. California joins similar bans in Colorado, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
Suppliers and buyers would be wise to follow the progress of SB 54 and other similar regulations closely. Be proactive. Change your production and purchasing policies today, not when you are forced to do so.
Your thoughts? I would love to hear from you. I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers, and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in our Green Supplier Spotlights!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes the Wednesday Green Supplier Spotlight and Thursday Green Suppliers Spotlight. Green Supplier Spotlight features just one vendor and Green Suppliers Spotlight features multiple vendors. Click here for a Green Supplier Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Both e-blasts that reach 17,872 subscribers have been built to generate quick leads. A report is sent a week after each e-blast that includes the number of e-mails sent, number of opens, and number of click-throughs. Contact Glenn Hasek at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com for more information.
Planning Advertising for 2026?
In addition to the Spotlight ads described above, Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for other advertising spots for 2026. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. The Green Lodging News website last month welcomed 42,000 different visitors. Interested in receiving a 2026 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlights currently stands at 17,872. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com to be added to our list.
Green Lodging News & Social Media
Green Lodging News now has 1,621 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has more than 1,200 Facebook followers.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
