On June 30, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 54, the first comprehensive law to reduce single-use plastic products in the United States. The new law provides that：
Source reduction: 25% reduction in the use of covered materials sold, offered for sale or distributed in the state beginning January 1, 2032
January 1, 2032, all covered materials sold, distributed or imported in the state are recyclable or compostable
All covered materials sold, distributed or imported in the state meet the following recovery rates.
No less than 30% from January 1, 2028
Not less than 40% from January 1, 2030
No less than 65% from January 1, 2032
Covered materials refer to both of the following.
Disposable packaging: After its contents have been used or unpacked, it is usually recycled, disposed of or discarded and is not usually refilled or otherwise reused by the manufacturer.
Disposable plastic food serving utensils: including, but not limited to, plastic-coated paper or plastic-coated cardboard, paper or cardboard with plastic intentionally added during the manufacturing process, and multi-layer flexible materials. For the purpose of this item, "disposable food service ware" includes the following two items.
(i) trays, plates, bowls, lunch boxes with lids, lids, cups, utensils, stirrers, hinged or lidded containers and straws
(ii) Wrapping paper or bags for sale to food service organizations
The new law shifts the responsibility for plastic waste from the user to the producer, and it specifies fines of up to $50,000 per day for companies that do not comply with the bill's requirements.
