High Desert RMDZ

SB 54 plan for cartons, film draws warning

Hitting California’s SB 54 recycling targets for cartons and cups through single-stream collection could push roughly 100,000 tons of new plastic contamination into the state’s exported paper bales each year, a panelist said during a panel at the California Resource Recovery Association’s San Diego conference.

Martin Bourque, executive director of Berkeley’s Ecology Center, was one of five panelists discussing ho ...

Learn more: https://resource-recycling.com/policy-now/2026/09/15/sb-54-plan-for-cartons-film-draws-warning/

SB 54 plan for cartons, film draws warning The new law's cartons and film targets could add 100,000 tons of plastic contamination to California's paper exports annually, a panelist said during a recent panel.

California governor signs battery recycling, landfill temperature laws

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest moves update the state’s battery EPR law, as well as aspects of its bottle bill program. He also gave CalRecycle more authority following a high-profile issue at the Chiquita Canyon Landfill.

Learn more: https://www.wastedive.com/news/california-gov-newsom-signs-battery-recycling-landfill-temperature-laws/830900/

California governor signs battery recycling, landfill temperature laws Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest moves update the state’s battery EPR law, as well as aspects of its bottle bill program. He also gave CalRecycle more authority following a high-profile issue at the Chiquita Canyon Landfill.

California’s EPR Plan Addresses Compostables | BioCycle

Examining the strategy for compostables in Circular Action Alliance’s plan for California’s extended producer responsibility for packaging program.

Source: California’s EPR Plan Addresses Compostables | BioCycle

California’s EPR Plan Addresses Compostables | BioCycle – Mojave Desert and Mountain Recycling Authority Examining the strategy for compostables in Circular Action Alliance’s plan for California’s extended producer responsibility for packaging program.

California governor vetoes updates to SB 54’s plastic pollution fund | Packaging Dive

SB 1180 was opposed by the Flexible Packaging Association, Plastics Industry Association and others. The $5 billion Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund is slated to kick off next year.

Source: California governor vetoes updates to SB 54’s plastic pollution fund | Packaging Dive

California governor vetoes updates to SB 54’s plastic pollution fund | Packaging Dive – Mojave Desert and Mountain Recycling Authority SB 1180 was opposed by the Flexible Packaging Association, Plastics Industry Association and others. The $5 billion Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund is slated to kick off next year.

800K tons of film, flex end markets to accelerate PCR demand: report

A report from Eunomia and Delterra outlines the challenges and possibilities for scaling the market. It coincided with the launch of a demand accelerator project involving Amcor and Kraft Heinz.

Learn more: https://www.wastedive.com/news/flexible-plastic-film-recycling-eunomia-delterra-amcor-kraft-heinz/830294/

800K tons of film, flex end markets to accelerate PCR demand: report A report from Eunomia and Delterra outlines the challenges and possibilities for scaling the market. It coincided with the launch of a demand accelerator project involving Amcor and Kraft Heinz.

Packaging has changed. Recycling systems haven’t kept up, report says.

U.S. households’ generation of cartons surged from 2020 to 2026, while mixed paper dropped notably. The Recycling Partnership released data intended to inform simultaneous evolutions of the packaging and recycling sectors.

Learn more: https://www.wastedive.com/news/packaging-has-changed-recycling-systems-havent-kept-up-report-says/830785/

Packaging has changed. Recycling systems haven’t kept up, report says. U.S. households’ generation of cartons surged from 2020 to 2026, while mixed paper dropped notably. The Recycling Partnership released data intended to inform simultaneous evolutions of the packaging and recycling sectors.

Passing the sniff test: Overcoming PCR’s odor and color challenges

Sensory issues related to scent and tint pose unique hurdles for brands looking to incorporate more recycled plastic in consumer goods packaging. It’s spurring more creative applications for PCR.

Learn more: https://www.wastedive.com/news/pcr-postconsumer-recycled-content-odors-colors-sensory/830417/

Passing the sniff test: Overcoming PCR’s odor and color challenges Sensory issues related to scent and tint pose unique hurdles for brands looking to incorporate more recycled plastic in consumer goods packaging. It’s spurring more creative applications for PCR.

SB 54 Unpacked: California jurisdictions face scramble to comply

Editor’s note: This is the first of a three-part Policy Now series on SB 54 implementation covering the local collection deadline and exemption process, responsible end markets and reimbursement funding as well as packaging progress, challenges and opportunities under SB 54.

Nearly every jurisdiction in California will have to take action by the end of the year to comply with SB 54’s local collection man ...

Learn more: https://resource-recycling.com/policy-now/2026/09/02/sb-54-unpacked-california-jurisdictions-face-scramble-to-comply/

SB 54 Unpacked: California jurisdictions face scramble to comply Of California's 56 SB 54-covered packaging categories, Alameda County jurisdictions collect fewer than a third of them uniformly, and the clock on compliance is running out.

SB 54 Unpacked: REMs, reimbursements remain moving targets

Editor’s note: This is the second of a three-part Policy Now series on SB 54 implementation covering the local collection deadline and exemption process, responsible end markets and reimbursement funding as well as packaging progress, challenges and opportunities under SB 54.

California won’t have an official list of responsible end markets for recycled packaging materials until four days before jurisdictions are required to prove they’re sending covered materials to one, Circular Action Alliance (CAA) California Executive ...

Learn more: https://resource-recycling.com/policy-now/2026/09/03/sb-54-unpacked-rems-reimbursements-remain-moving-targets/

SB 54 Unpacked: REMs, reimbursements remain moving targets California's list of SB 54 responsible end markets won't exist until four days before the state's Jan. 1 compliance deadline, and CAA is warning jurisdictions not to rush their exemption filings in the meantime.

SB 54 Unpacked: Can film catch up to cartons?

Editor’s note: This is the third installment of a three-part Policy Now series on SB 54 implementation covering the local collection deadline and exemption process, responsible end markets and reimbursement funding, as well as packaging progress, challenges and opportunities under SB 54.

Carton recycling has crossed a threshold that flexible film is nowhere near reaching, and that gap is shaping how California’s Circular Action Alliance (CAA) is spending SB 54 money in 2027.

That contrast anchored a facilitated roundtable on challenged and not-yet-recyclable materials at the California Resource Recovery Association’s San Diego conference. Panelists examined mate ...

Learn more: https://resource-recycling.com/policy-now/2026/09/04/sb-54-unpacked-can-film-catch-up-to-cartons/

SB 54 Unpacked: Can film catch up to cartons? Flexible film, generating 550,000 tons/year of waste, has end markets for only about 10% of it, panelists said at a CRRA conference roundtable.