California Legislature Passes Monumental Packaging Legislation to Reduce Waste, Fund Compost

Yesterday the California legislature passed SB 54, arguably the most comprehensive waste reduction legislation in the country. Governor Gavin Newsome signed the bill, which?requires packaging sold in the state to be recyclable or certified compostable by 2032 and establishes an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program to?fund reuse, recycling, and compost throughout the state.?

The final bill ultimately garnered support from a majority of industry and environmental groups, including BPI. Throughout the lengthy process, BPI worked with stakeholders to ensure that the bill contained the following elements:?

• Both composters and compostable product manufacturers have seats on the EPR program’s advisory board that is tasked with reviewing the program’s planning and development.?
• Funds earmarked to support collection and management infrastructure for ‘covered products,’ including compostable packaging, along with decontamination efforts. ?
• Fees collected from producers to create those funds will be modulated to reward products that exhibit benefits including being certified compostable, incurring lower management and transportation costs, and being free of toxic additives like PFAS.?
• Companies choosing to switch from single-use plastic to certified compostable fiber packaging will receive credit towards source reduction targets.?

Rhodes Yepsen, Executive Director and Alex Truelove, Legislation and Advocacy Manager, issued the following statements:?

“We know that diverting organic waste is vital to reducing our GHG emissions and improving our soils," added Yepsen. "EPR is a great opportunity for us to maximize our potential, with composters and compostable packaging companies continuing to work together?and support each other. In that regard, this legislation is a positive step forward for the environment and the composting industry more broadly.”?

“The passage of 54 marks the second time in two months that BPI has successfully advocated for a compost-friendly statewide EPR program, after 1355 in Colorado," said Truelove. "Historically, these programs have levied fees from compostable packaging manufacturers—BPI Members—to be siphoned to recycling only. We’re happy to know that in California, BPI Members will be supporting the infrastructure needed to successfully collect and process their products along with associated food waste.”?