California EPR Guide
Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54, 2022)
Who is a “producer”?
Under SB 54, a “producer” is determined in the following order of responsibility:
- 1Brand owner of the product sold in packaging
- 2Licensee who sells under another's brand
- 3Importer of record into the US for sale in CA
- 4Person who first distributes the item in or into CA
What's covered
Covered
- ✓Single-use packaging (consumer-facing)
- ✓Plastic food service ware
- ✓B2B + B2C shipping/tertiary packaging
- ✓All component parts counted separately
Not Covered / Exempt
- ✕Packaging with 70%+ recycling rate
- ✕Small producers (<$1M CA sales)
- ✕Beverage containers under CA bottle bill
Key Deadlines
| Date | What's Due | Status |
|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2026 | Annual Supply Report (2025 data) + Source Reduction Report | URGENT |
| May 31, 2026 | Final 2023 Baseline Report (30 days after regs finalized) | URGENT |
| Aug 1, 2026 | Individual Source Reduction Plan | URGENT |
| Aug 1, 2026 | Early fee invoices issued | UPCOMING |
| May 31, 2027 | Next annual report (2026 data) | FUTURE |
| Jan 1, 2028 | Full program fee structure begins | FUTURE |
Fee Rates (California)
Estimated fee rates per pound, based on CAA methodology and comparable state programs.
Simplified rate groupings for estimation. Official CAA categories are more granular (60–95 categories). See your state’s Producer Responsibility Organization for the complete rate schedule.
| Material | Low ($/lb) | High ($/lb) |
|---|---|---|
| Readily recyclable plastic (PET, HDPE, PP) | $0.05 | $0.12 |
| Non-recyclable plastic (PS, PVC, multi-layer) | $0.22 | $0.45 |
| Paper/Fiber (corrugated) | $0.01 | $0.05 |
| Paper/Fiber (paperboard) | $0.03 | $0.07 |
| Glass | $0.01 | $0.05 |
| Aluminum | $0.01 | $0.03 |
| Steel | $0.03 | $0.06 |
These are estimated ranges. Actual fee rates for California have not been finalized. Check official sources for updates.
Calculate Your California Fees →Eco-Modulation Factors
Credits (reduce fees)
Switch from multi-material to single-material recyclable formats
Post-consumer recycled content reduces fees
Industry-standard sizes and formats
Clear recycling instructions on packaging
Maluses (increase fees)
Hard-to-recycle composites increase fees
Proposition 65 chemicals in packaging trigger additional fees (CA only)
Dark plastic, additives, and other contaminants
Source Reduction Requirements
- ✓10% plastic reduction by 2027 (from 2023 baseline)
- ✓20% reduction by 2030
- ✓25% reduction by 2032
- ✓At least 10% must come from reuse/refill or elimination
- ✓Up to 8% can come from PCR content substitution
Official Resources
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