Newsom stalls California’s strict plastic waste rules after industry pushback
California Governor Gavin Newsom has delayed implementation of a landmark plastic reduction law, SB 54, after industry groups raised concerns, leaving environmental advocates questioning his motives.
Joseph Winters reports for Grist.
In short:
- SB 54, signed in 2022, aimed to cut single-use plastic packaging in California by 25% by 2032, increase recycling rates, and require companies to pay into a $500 million cleanup fund.
- The state’s recycling agency, CalRecycle, spent years crafting enforcement rules, but Newsom’s office unexpectedly rejected them just before they were set to take effect.
- While Newsom cited fairness and cost concerns, environmental groups suspect industry lobbying influenced the delay, as plastics manufacturers have long sought modifications to the law.
Key quote:
“It’s kind of like we just got slapped with a wet fish.”
— Shira Lane, founder and CEO of Atrium 916, a Sacramento-based zero waste organization
Why this matters:
California’s delay in enforcing SB 54, a landmark law aimed at reducing plastic waste, could have ripple effects far beyond the state’s borders. The law, passed in 2022, was intended to force the plastics industry to take more responsibility for waste by mandating significant reductions in single-use plastics and increasing recycling rates. But pushback from industry groups and logistical hurdles have slowed implementation.
This delay comes at a time when plastic pollution is at record highs, clogging oceans, harming wildlife, and even infiltrating human bodies in the form of microplastics. Critics argue that postponing enforcement allows manufacturers to lobby for watered-down regulations, undermining the bill’s original intent. Meanwhile, other states weighing similar measures may hesitate to follow suit if California — often a trailblazer in environmental policy — fails to enforce its own rules effectively.
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