Food items delivered by Feeding San Diego, Emmanuel Faith Community Church, along with other churches and community members during a food distribution at Interfaith Community Services in Escondido on Oct. 30, 2025. Photo Credit: Ariana Drehsler for CalMatters
Environment USALandmark Plastic Rules Drive Recycling and Waste Reduction
California has adopted some of the most ambitious plastic reduction and recycling requirements in the United States, shifting responsibility for packaging waste to producers and accelerating efforts to tackle plastic pollution.
“This massively moves the needle on this really major problem,” said State Senator Ben Allen, author of the plastic waste law.
Under the new regulations, producers must ensure that all packaging becomes recyclable or compostable by 2032, increase recycling rates and contribute $5 billion over 10 years to address environmental harms linked to plastic pollution. Companies can meet the targets by reducing plastic use, developing alternative materials or investing in recycling infrastructure. The reforms also require businesses to help fund waste management systems, easing the burden on consumers and local governments. Supporters say the measures could significantly reduce single-use plastic waste, strengthen recycling systems and encourage innovation in sustainable packaging across a wide range of industries.
