Materials covered
- All single-use packaging (rigid plastic, flexible plastic, glass, metal, paper/fiber)
- Plastic single-use food service ware
- Cosmetic primary packaging, secondary packaging, and shipping materials
Packaging EPRCA
California packaging producer responsibility
SB 54 — Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (2022)
California's Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54, 2022) requires every producer of single-use packaging or plastic food service ware sold in California to participate in a Producer Responsibility Organization. The law sets 100% recyclable/compostable/reusable targets by 2032 and a 65% plastic recycling rate, plus a 25% plastic source reduction requirement.
Last updated:
- Producer Responsibility Organization
- Circular Action Alliance (CAA)
Who is a producer in California?
The brand owner whose name appears on the packaging — or, if the brand is not in California, the importer of record. Producers with under $1M in annual gross sales in California are exempt for the first year; the de minimis threshold drops over time.
Producer obligations
- Register with the designated PRO (Circular Action Alliance)
- Report packaging volumes by material category to CalRecycle / PRO annually
- Pay fees based on material type and recyclability
- Meet source reduction (25% by 2032) and recyclability targets
- Eco-modulated fees: higher rates for non-recyclable materials
Compliance timeline
- Active
CAA designated as PRO
CalRecycle approved Circular Action Alliance as the statewide Producer Responsibility Organization for SB 54.
- Reporting begins
Initial reporting & fees
First mandatory producer registration, reporting, and fee payments to the PRO. Fee schedule eco-modulated by material recyclability.
- Pending
25% source reduction milestone
Producers must demonstrate progress toward 25% reduction in single-use plastic packaging by weight or unit count.
- Pending
100% recyclable/compostable/reusable
All single-use packaging sold in California must be recyclable, compostable, or reusable. 65% plastic recycling rate target.
How Cosmetica helps
Cosmetica coverage for California
Cosmetica tracks producer status, packaging volumes by material, fee estimates, and reporting deadlines per state. Connects to CAA reporting workflow as the PRO matures.
Primary sources
EPR statutes and rules are evolving. Verify the latest dates, fee schedules, and de minimis thresholds with the state agency before relying on this summary for compliance decisions.