Amended IN Senate August 18, 2021 Amended IN Senate June 23, 2021 Amended IN Assembly April 05, 2021 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1201Introduced by Assembly Members Ting, Friedman, Lorena Gonzalez, and MathisFebruary 18, 2021 An act to amend the heading of Chapter 5.7 (commencing with Section 42355) of Part 3 of Division 30 of, and to amend Sections 42356 and 42357 of of, the Public Resources Code, relating to solid waste. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1201, as amended, Ting. Solid waste: plastic products: labeling: compostability and biodegradability. Existing law prohibits a person from selling a plastic product that is labeled as compostable or home compostable unless, at the time of sale, the plastic product meets a specified specification or has a specified certification, as provided. Existing law prohibits the sale of a plastic product that is labeled as biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable, and prohibits implying that a plastic product will break down, fragment, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or other environment, unless the plastic product meets one of several specified standards relating to environmental marketing claims. Existing law authorizes a person to sell commercial agricultural mulch film labeled with the term soil biodegradable only if the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery has adopted a certain specification and the commercial agricultural mulch film is certified to meet both that specification and the ASTM standard specification for compostability.Existing law authorizes the Director of Resources Recycling and Recovery to issue guidelines for determining whether a plastic product is not compliant with these labeling requirements, and whether a plastic product is designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.Existing law defines plastic product for these purposes to mean a product made of plastic, whether alone or in combination with other material.This bill would repeal that definition of plastic product and replace certain references to plastic product in those and related provisions with product, which the bill would define as a product designed to be associated with the recovery of desirable organic wastes that are collected for composting. The bill would additionally prohibit a person from offering for sale a plastic product that is labeled as compostable or home compostable unless, at the time of sale or offering for sale, the plastic product meets that specified specification or has that specified certification and would additionally prohibit a person from offering for sale a plastic product that is labeled as biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable, unless the plastic product meets one of those specified standards relating to environmental marketing claims. The bill would additionally authorize a person to offer for sale commercial agricultural mulch film labeled with the term soil biodegradable if the department adopts that specification and the film has that certification.This bill would prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale a plastic product that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless the product satisfies specified criteria. The bill would authorize the department to adopt regulations for plastic product labeling to ensure that plastic products labeled compostable or home compostable are clearly distinguishable determining whether products are labeled in a manner that clearly distinguishes the products from noncompostable products upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities, as specified.This bill would also make conforming changes and revise a related definition of supplier.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The heading of Chapter 5.7 (commencing with Section 42355) of Part 3 of Division 30 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read: CHAPTER 5.7. Plastic ProductsSECTION 1.SEC. 2. Section 42356 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:42356. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) ASTM means the ASTM International.(b) (1) ASTM standard specification means either of the following:(A) The ASTM Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities D6400, as published in 2019, except as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 42356.1.(B) The ASTM Standard Specification for Labeling of End Items that Incorporate Plastics and Polymers as Coatings or Additives with Paper and Other Substrates Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities D6868, as published in 2019, except as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 42356.1.(2) ASTM standard specification does not include an ASTM Standard Guide, a Standard Practice, or a Standard Test Method.(c) Department means the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.(d) Director means the Director of Resources Recycling and Recovery.(e) Manufacturer means a person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation that produces a plastic product.(f) OK compost HOME certification means certification of conformity with the existing TUV Austria certification OK compost HOME certification which, as of January 1, 2011, uses European Norm 13432 standard adapted to low-temperature composting in accordance with the TUV Austria program OK 2-Home Compostability of Products.(g) Plastic product means a product made of plastic, whether alone or in combination with other material, including, but not limited to, paperboard. A plastic Product means a product designed to be associated with the recovery of desirable organic wastes, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, that are collected for composting. A product includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:(1) (A) A consumer product.(B) For purposes of this paragraph, consumer product means a product or part of a product that is used, bought, or leased for use by a person for any purpose.(2) A package or a packaging component.(3) A bag, sack, wrap, or other thin plastic sheet film product.(4) A food or beverage container or a container component, including, but not limited to, a straw, lid, or utensil.(h) Supplier means a person who does one or more of the following:(1) Sells, offers for sale, or offers for promotional purposes a plastic product.(2) Takes title to a plastic product, produced either domestically or in a foreign country, that is purchased for resale or promotional purposes.SEC. 2.SEC. 3. Section 42357 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:42357. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), a person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless, at the time of sale or offering for sale, the plastic product meets the applicable ASTM standard specification, as specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 42356, or, if applicable, the plastic product has OK compost HOME certification, as provided in paragraph (4).(2) Compliance with only a section or a portion of a section of an applicable ASTM standard specification does not constitute compliance with paragraph (1).(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person may sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with a qualified claim for a term specified in paragraph (1), if the plastic product meets the relevant standard adopted by the department pursuant to Section 42356.2.(4) (A) A plastic product shall not be labeled with the term home compostable unless the manufacturer of that plastic product holds OK compost HOME certification with regard to that product, except as provided in subparagraph (B) or (C).(B) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the ASTM adopts a standard specification for the term home compostable on or before January 1, 2016, and the department determines that the ASTM standard specification is at least equal to, or more stringent than, the OK compost HOME certification, a plastic product labeled with the term home compostable shall meet that ASTM standard specification. The department may also take the actions specified in Section 42356.1 with regard to an ASTM standard for home compostability.(C) If the department adopts a standard pursuant to Section 42356.2, a plastic product labeled with the term home compostable shall meet that standard and not the standard specified in subparagraph (A) or (B).(b) Except as provided in subdivision (a) or (f), a person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable, or any form of those terms, or in any way imply that the plastic product will break down, fragment, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or other environment.(c) The director may issue guidelines, consistent with this chapter, for determining whether a plastic product is not compliant with the labeling requirements of this section, and whether a plastic product is designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.(d) A manufacturer or supplier, upon the request of a member of the public, shall submit to that member, within 90 days of the request, information and documentation demonstrating compliance with this chapter, in a format that is easy to understand and scientifically accurate.(e) A product that is in compliance with this chapter shall not, solely as a result of that compliance, be deemed to be in compliance with any other applicable marketing requirement or guideline established under state law or by the Federal Trade Commission.(f) (1) The department may adopt the European Committee for Standardizations standard specification EN 17033:2018 entitled PlasticsBiodegradable mulch films for use in agriculture and horticultureRequirements and test methods or may adopt a standard that is equivalent to, or more stringent than, that standard, as it read on January 1, 2020.(2) A person may sell or offer for sale commercial agricultural mulch film labeled with the term soil biodegradable only if the department has adopted the standard specification, or an equivalent or more stringent standard, pursuant to paragraph (1) and the commercial agricultural mulch film is certified to meet both that specification and the ASTM standard specification for compostability.(3) For purposes of this subdivision, commercial agricultural mulch film means film plastic that is used only as a technical tool in commercial farming applications.(g) (1) A person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless the product satisfies all of the following:(A) Has certification from the Biodegradable Products Institute, Compost Manufacturing Alliance, or another a third-party certification entity that is approved by the department for meeting compostability and toxicity standards.(B) On and after January 1, 2026, is an allowable agricultural organic input under the requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program and the Department of Food and Agricultures Organic Input Material Program. (USDA NOP) that has been reviewed and approved by a USDA NOP-accredited certifying agent for use in organic crop and food production. The director may grant a five-year extension for complying with this requirement if either of the following apply:(i) The plastic product has or will soon be, as determined by the director, included on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Sections 205.600 to 205.607, inclusive, of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations).(ii) The plastic product has or will soon be, as determined by the director, included as an allowable organic input for compost under federal law.(C) Does not include intentionally added have a total fluorine concentration of greater than 100 parts per million, unless the department adopts a different standard that it determines would more effectively limit the presence of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances.(D) Is labeled in a manner that clearly distinguishes the product from a noncompostable product upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities, and, where possible, that includes the word compostable, an approved third-party certification mark, and the use of green or brown colors.(2) The department may adopt regulations for plastic product labeling to ensure that plastic products labeled compostable or home compostable are clearly distinguishable from noncompostable products upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities. determining whether products comply with the requirements of subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1). The department, in adopting regulations pursuant to this subdivision, may consider the plastic whether the regulations are consistent with the product labeling requirements of other states, stakeholder input, and industry-standard guidelines to maximize consistency with those requirements and guidelines and that input when possible. guidelines. The regulations may include requirements that plastic products are not designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.
Amended IN Senate August 18, 2021 Amended IN Senate June 23, 2021 Amended IN Assembly April 05, 2021 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1201Introduced by Assembly Members Ting, Friedman, Lorena Gonzalez, and MathisFebruary 18, 2021 An act to amend the heading of Chapter 5.7 (commencing with Section 42355) of Part 3 of Division 30 of, and to amend Sections 42356 and 42357 of of, the Public Resources Code, relating to solid waste. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1201, as amended, Ting. Solid waste: plastic products: labeling: compostability and biodegradability. Existing law prohibits a person from selling a plastic product that is labeled as compostable or home compostable unless, at the time of sale, the plastic product meets a specified specification or has a specified certification, as provided. Existing law prohibits the sale of a plastic product that is labeled as biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable, and prohibits implying that a plastic product will break down, fragment, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or other environment, unless the plastic product meets one of several specified standards relating to environmental marketing claims. Existing law authorizes a person to sell commercial agricultural mulch film labeled with the term soil biodegradable only if the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery has adopted a certain specification and the commercial agricultural mulch film is certified to meet both that specification and the ASTM standard specification for compostability.Existing law authorizes the Director of Resources Recycling and Recovery to issue guidelines for determining whether a plastic product is not compliant with these labeling requirements, and whether a plastic product is designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.Existing law defines plastic product for these purposes to mean a product made of plastic, whether alone or in combination with other material.This bill would repeal that definition of plastic product and replace certain references to plastic product in those and related provisions with product, which the bill would define as a product designed to be associated with the recovery of desirable organic wastes that are collected for composting. The bill would additionally prohibit a person from offering for sale a plastic product that is labeled as compostable or home compostable unless, at the time of sale or offering for sale, the plastic product meets that specified specification or has that specified certification and would additionally prohibit a person from offering for sale a plastic product that is labeled as biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable, unless the plastic product meets one of those specified standards relating to environmental marketing claims. The bill would additionally authorize a person to offer for sale commercial agricultural mulch film labeled with the term soil biodegradable if the department adopts that specification and the film has that certification.This bill would prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale a plastic product that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless the product satisfies specified criteria. The bill would authorize the department to adopt regulations for plastic product labeling to ensure that plastic products labeled compostable or home compostable are clearly distinguishable determining whether products are labeled in a manner that clearly distinguishes the products from noncompostable products upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities, as specified.This bill would also make conforming changes and revise a related definition of supplier.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
Amended IN Senate August 18, 2021 Amended IN Senate June 23, 2021 Amended IN Assembly April 05, 2021
Amended IN Senate August 18, 2021
Amended IN Senate June 23, 2021
Amended IN Assembly April 05, 2021
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1201
Introduced by Assembly Members Ting, Friedman, Lorena Gonzalez, and MathisFebruary 18, 2021
Introduced by Assembly Members Ting, Friedman, Lorena Gonzalez, and Mathis
February 18, 2021
An act to amend the heading of Chapter 5.7 (commencing with Section 42355) of Part 3 of Division 30 of, and to amend Sections 42356 and 42357 of of, the Public Resources Code, relating to solid waste.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1201, as amended, Ting. Solid waste: plastic products: labeling: compostability and biodegradability.
Existing law prohibits a person from selling a plastic product that is labeled as compostable or home compostable unless, at the time of sale, the plastic product meets a specified specification or has a specified certification, as provided. Existing law prohibits the sale of a plastic product that is labeled as biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable, and prohibits implying that a plastic product will break down, fragment, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or other environment, unless the plastic product meets one of several specified standards relating to environmental marketing claims. Existing law authorizes a person to sell commercial agricultural mulch film labeled with the term soil biodegradable only if the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery has adopted a certain specification and the commercial agricultural mulch film is certified to meet both that specification and the ASTM standard specification for compostability.Existing law authorizes the Director of Resources Recycling and Recovery to issue guidelines for determining whether a plastic product is not compliant with these labeling requirements, and whether a plastic product is designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.Existing law defines plastic product for these purposes to mean a product made of plastic, whether alone or in combination with other material.This bill would repeal that definition of plastic product and replace certain references to plastic product in those and related provisions with product, which the bill would define as a product designed to be associated with the recovery of desirable organic wastes that are collected for composting. The bill would additionally prohibit a person from offering for sale a plastic product that is labeled as compostable or home compostable unless, at the time of sale or offering for sale, the plastic product meets that specified specification or has that specified certification and would additionally prohibit a person from offering for sale a plastic product that is labeled as biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable, unless the plastic product meets one of those specified standards relating to environmental marketing claims. The bill would additionally authorize a person to offer for sale commercial agricultural mulch film labeled with the term soil biodegradable if the department adopts that specification and the film has that certification.This bill would prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale a plastic product that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless the product satisfies specified criteria. The bill would authorize the department to adopt regulations for plastic product labeling to ensure that plastic products labeled compostable or home compostable are clearly distinguishable determining whether products are labeled in a manner that clearly distinguishes the products from noncompostable products upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities, as specified.This bill would also make conforming changes and revise a related definition of supplier.
Existing law prohibits a person from selling a plastic product that is labeled as compostable or home compostable unless, at the time of sale, the plastic product meets a specified specification or has a specified certification, as provided. Existing law prohibits the sale of a plastic product that is labeled as biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable, and prohibits implying that a plastic product will break down, fragment, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or other environment, unless the plastic product meets one of several specified standards relating to environmental marketing claims. Existing law authorizes a person to sell commercial agricultural mulch film labeled with the term soil biodegradable only if the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery has adopted a certain specification and the commercial agricultural mulch film is certified to meet both that specification and the ASTM standard specification for compostability.
Existing law authorizes the Director of Resources Recycling and Recovery to issue guidelines for determining whether a plastic product is not compliant with these labeling requirements, and whether a plastic product is designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.
Existing law defines plastic product for these purposes to mean a product made of plastic, whether alone or in combination with other material.
This bill would repeal that definition of plastic product and replace certain references to plastic product in those and related provisions with product, which the bill would define as a product designed to be associated with the recovery of desirable organic wastes that are collected for composting. The bill would additionally prohibit a person from offering for sale a plastic product that is labeled as compostable or home compostable unless, at the time of sale or offering for sale, the plastic product meets that specified specification or has that specified certification and would additionally prohibit a person from offering for sale a plastic product that is labeled as biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable, unless the plastic product meets one of those specified standards relating to environmental marketing claims. The bill would additionally authorize a person to offer for sale commercial agricultural mulch film labeled with the term soil biodegradable if the department adopts that specification and the film has that certification.
This bill would prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale a plastic product that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless the product satisfies specified criteria. The bill would authorize the department to adopt regulations for plastic product labeling to ensure that plastic products labeled compostable or home compostable are clearly distinguishable determining whether products are labeled in a manner that clearly distinguishes the products from noncompostable products upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities, as specified.
This bill would also make conforming changes and revise a related definition of supplier.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The heading of Chapter 5.7 (commencing with Section 42355) of Part 3 of Division 30 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read: CHAPTER 5.7. Plastic ProductsSECTION 1.SEC. 2. Section 42356 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:42356. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) ASTM means the ASTM International.(b) (1) ASTM standard specification means either of the following:(A) The ASTM Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities D6400, as published in 2019, except as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 42356.1.(B) The ASTM Standard Specification for Labeling of End Items that Incorporate Plastics and Polymers as Coatings or Additives with Paper and Other Substrates Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities D6868, as published in 2019, except as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 42356.1.(2) ASTM standard specification does not include an ASTM Standard Guide, a Standard Practice, or a Standard Test Method.(c) Department means the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.(d) Director means the Director of Resources Recycling and Recovery.(e) Manufacturer means a person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation that produces a plastic product.(f) OK compost HOME certification means certification of conformity with the existing TUV Austria certification OK compost HOME certification which, as of January 1, 2011, uses European Norm 13432 standard adapted to low-temperature composting in accordance with the TUV Austria program OK 2-Home Compostability of Products.(g) Plastic product means a product made of plastic, whether alone or in combination with other material, including, but not limited to, paperboard. A plastic Product means a product designed to be associated with the recovery of desirable organic wastes, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, that are collected for composting. A product includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:(1) (A) A consumer product.(B) For purposes of this paragraph, consumer product means a product or part of a product that is used, bought, or leased for use by a person for any purpose.(2) A package or a packaging component.(3) A bag, sack, wrap, or other thin plastic sheet film product.(4) A food or beverage container or a container component, including, but not limited to, a straw, lid, or utensil.(h) Supplier means a person who does one or more of the following:(1) Sells, offers for sale, or offers for promotional purposes a plastic product.(2) Takes title to a plastic product, produced either domestically or in a foreign country, that is purchased for resale or promotional purposes.SEC. 2.SEC. 3. Section 42357 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:42357. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), a person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless, at the time of sale or offering for sale, the plastic product meets the applicable ASTM standard specification, as specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 42356, or, if applicable, the plastic product has OK compost HOME certification, as provided in paragraph (4).(2) Compliance with only a section or a portion of a section of an applicable ASTM standard specification does not constitute compliance with paragraph (1).(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person may sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with a qualified claim for a term specified in paragraph (1), if the plastic product meets the relevant standard adopted by the department pursuant to Section 42356.2.(4) (A) A plastic product shall not be labeled with the term home compostable unless the manufacturer of that plastic product holds OK compost HOME certification with regard to that product, except as provided in subparagraph (B) or (C).(B) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the ASTM adopts a standard specification for the term home compostable on or before January 1, 2016, and the department determines that the ASTM standard specification is at least equal to, or more stringent than, the OK compost HOME certification, a plastic product labeled with the term home compostable shall meet that ASTM standard specification. The department may also take the actions specified in Section 42356.1 with regard to an ASTM standard for home compostability.(C) If the department adopts a standard pursuant to Section 42356.2, a plastic product labeled with the term home compostable shall meet that standard and not the standard specified in subparagraph (A) or (B).(b) Except as provided in subdivision (a) or (f), a person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable, or any form of those terms, or in any way imply that the plastic product will break down, fragment, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or other environment.(c) The director may issue guidelines, consistent with this chapter, for determining whether a plastic product is not compliant with the labeling requirements of this section, and whether a plastic product is designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.(d) A manufacturer or supplier, upon the request of a member of the public, shall submit to that member, within 90 days of the request, information and documentation demonstrating compliance with this chapter, in a format that is easy to understand and scientifically accurate.(e) A product that is in compliance with this chapter shall not, solely as a result of that compliance, be deemed to be in compliance with any other applicable marketing requirement or guideline established under state law or by the Federal Trade Commission.(f) (1) The department may adopt the European Committee for Standardizations standard specification EN 17033:2018 entitled PlasticsBiodegradable mulch films for use in agriculture and horticultureRequirements and test methods or may adopt a standard that is equivalent to, or more stringent than, that standard, as it read on January 1, 2020.(2) A person may sell or offer for sale commercial agricultural mulch film labeled with the term soil biodegradable only if the department has adopted the standard specification, or an equivalent or more stringent standard, pursuant to paragraph (1) and the commercial agricultural mulch film is certified to meet both that specification and the ASTM standard specification for compostability.(3) For purposes of this subdivision, commercial agricultural mulch film means film plastic that is used only as a technical tool in commercial farming applications.(g) (1) A person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless the product satisfies all of the following:(A) Has certification from the Biodegradable Products Institute, Compost Manufacturing Alliance, or another a third-party certification entity that is approved by the department for meeting compostability and toxicity standards.(B) On and after January 1, 2026, is an allowable agricultural organic input under the requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program and the Department of Food and Agricultures Organic Input Material Program. (USDA NOP) that has been reviewed and approved by a USDA NOP-accredited certifying agent for use in organic crop and food production. The director may grant a five-year extension for complying with this requirement if either of the following apply:(i) The plastic product has or will soon be, as determined by the director, included on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Sections 205.600 to 205.607, inclusive, of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations).(ii) The plastic product has or will soon be, as determined by the director, included as an allowable organic input for compost under federal law.(C) Does not include intentionally added have a total fluorine concentration of greater than 100 parts per million, unless the department adopts a different standard that it determines would more effectively limit the presence of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances.(D) Is labeled in a manner that clearly distinguishes the product from a noncompostable product upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities, and, where possible, that includes the word compostable, an approved third-party certification mark, and the use of green or brown colors.(2) The department may adopt regulations for plastic product labeling to ensure that plastic products labeled compostable or home compostable are clearly distinguishable from noncompostable products upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities. determining whether products comply with the requirements of subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1). The department, in adopting regulations pursuant to this subdivision, may consider the plastic whether the regulations are consistent with the product labeling requirements of other states, stakeholder input, and industry-standard guidelines to maximize consistency with those requirements and guidelines and that input when possible. guidelines. The regulations may include requirements that plastic products are not designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. The heading of Chapter 5.7 (commencing with Section 42355) of Part 3 of Division 30 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read: CHAPTER 5.7. Plastic Products
SECTION 1. The heading of Chapter 5.7 (commencing with Section 42355) of Part 3 of Division 30 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:
### SECTION 1.
CHAPTER 5.7. Plastic Products
CHAPTER 5.7. Plastic Products
CHAPTER 5.7. Plastic Products
CHAPTER 5.7. Plastic Products
SECTION 1.SEC. 2. Section 42356 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:42356. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) ASTM means the ASTM International.(b) (1) ASTM standard specification means either of the following:(A) The ASTM Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities D6400, as published in 2019, except as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 42356.1.(B) The ASTM Standard Specification for Labeling of End Items that Incorporate Plastics and Polymers as Coatings or Additives with Paper and Other Substrates Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities D6868, as published in 2019, except as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 42356.1.(2) ASTM standard specification does not include an ASTM Standard Guide, a Standard Practice, or a Standard Test Method.(c) Department means the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.(d) Director means the Director of Resources Recycling and Recovery.(e) Manufacturer means a person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation that produces a plastic product.(f) OK compost HOME certification means certification of conformity with the existing TUV Austria certification OK compost HOME certification which, as of January 1, 2011, uses European Norm 13432 standard adapted to low-temperature composting in accordance with the TUV Austria program OK 2-Home Compostability of Products.(g) Plastic product means a product made of plastic, whether alone or in combination with other material, including, but not limited to, paperboard. A plastic Product means a product designed to be associated with the recovery of desirable organic wastes, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, that are collected for composting. A product includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:(1) (A) A consumer product.(B) For purposes of this paragraph, consumer product means a product or part of a product that is used, bought, or leased for use by a person for any purpose.(2) A package or a packaging component.(3) A bag, sack, wrap, or other thin plastic sheet film product.(4) A food or beverage container or a container component, including, but not limited to, a straw, lid, or utensil.(h) Supplier means a person who does one or more of the following:(1) Sells, offers for sale, or offers for promotional purposes a plastic product.(2) Takes title to a plastic product, produced either domestically or in a foreign country, that is purchased for resale or promotional purposes.
SECTION 1.SEC. 2. Section 42356 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:
### SECTION 1.SEC. 2.
42356. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) ASTM means the ASTM International.(b) (1) ASTM standard specification means either of the following:(A) The ASTM Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities D6400, as published in 2019, except as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 42356.1.(B) The ASTM Standard Specification for Labeling of End Items that Incorporate Plastics and Polymers as Coatings or Additives with Paper and Other Substrates Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities D6868, as published in 2019, except as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 42356.1.(2) ASTM standard specification does not include an ASTM Standard Guide, a Standard Practice, or a Standard Test Method.(c) Department means the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.(d) Director means the Director of Resources Recycling and Recovery.(e) Manufacturer means a person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation that produces a plastic product.(f) OK compost HOME certification means certification of conformity with the existing TUV Austria certification OK compost HOME certification which, as of January 1, 2011, uses European Norm 13432 standard adapted to low-temperature composting in accordance with the TUV Austria program OK 2-Home Compostability of Products.(g) Plastic product means a product made of plastic, whether alone or in combination with other material, including, but not limited to, paperboard. A plastic Product means a product designed to be associated with the recovery of desirable organic wastes, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, that are collected for composting. A product includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:(1) (A) A consumer product.(B) For purposes of this paragraph, consumer product means a product or part of a product that is used, bought, or leased for use by a person for any purpose.(2) A package or a packaging component.(3) A bag, sack, wrap, or other thin plastic sheet film product.(4) A food or beverage container or a container component, including, but not limited to, a straw, lid, or utensil.(h) Supplier means a person who does one or more of the following:(1) Sells, offers for sale, or offers for promotional purposes a plastic product.(2) Takes title to a plastic product, produced either domestically or in a foreign country, that is purchased for resale or promotional purposes.
42356. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) ASTM means the ASTM International.(b) (1) ASTM standard specification means either of the following:(A) The ASTM Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities D6400, as published in 2019, except as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 42356.1.(B) The ASTM Standard Specification for Labeling of End Items that Incorporate Plastics and Polymers as Coatings or Additives with Paper and Other Substrates Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities D6868, as published in 2019, except as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 42356.1.(2) ASTM standard specification does not include an ASTM Standard Guide, a Standard Practice, or a Standard Test Method.(c) Department means the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.(d) Director means the Director of Resources Recycling and Recovery.(e) Manufacturer means a person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation that produces a plastic product.(f) OK compost HOME certification means certification of conformity with the existing TUV Austria certification OK compost HOME certification which, as of January 1, 2011, uses European Norm 13432 standard adapted to low-temperature composting in accordance with the TUV Austria program OK 2-Home Compostability of Products.(g) Plastic product means a product made of plastic, whether alone or in combination with other material, including, but not limited to, paperboard. A plastic Product means a product designed to be associated with the recovery of desirable organic wastes, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, that are collected for composting. A product includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:(1) (A) A consumer product.(B) For purposes of this paragraph, consumer product means a product or part of a product that is used, bought, or leased for use by a person for any purpose.(2) A package or a packaging component.(3) A bag, sack, wrap, or other thin plastic sheet film product.(4) A food or beverage container or a container component, including, but not limited to, a straw, lid, or utensil.(h) Supplier means a person who does one or more of the following:(1) Sells, offers for sale, or offers for promotional purposes a plastic product.(2) Takes title to a plastic product, produced either domestically or in a foreign country, that is purchased for resale or promotional purposes.
42356. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) ASTM means the ASTM International.(b) (1) ASTM standard specification means either of the following:(A) The ASTM Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities D6400, as published in 2019, except as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 42356.1.(B) The ASTM Standard Specification for Labeling of End Items that Incorporate Plastics and Polymers as Coatings or Additives with Paper and Other Substrates Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities D6868, as published in 2019, except as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 42356.1.(2) ASTM standard specification does not include an ASTM Standard Guide, a Standard Practice, or a Standard Test Method.(c) Department means the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.(d) Director means the Director of Resources Recycling and Recovery.(e) Manufacturer means a person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation that produces a plastic product.(f) OK compost HOME certification means certification of conformity with the existing TUV Austria certification OK compost HOME certification which, as of January 1, 2011, uses European Norm 13432 standard adapted to low-temperature composting in accordance with the TUV Austria program OK 2-Home Compostability of Products.(g) Plastic product means a product made of plastic, whether alone or in combination with other material, including, but not limited to, paperboard. A plastic Product means a product designed to be associated with the recovery of desirable organic wastes, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, that are collected for composting. A product includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:(1) (A) A consumer product.(B) For purposes of this paragraph, consumer product means a product or part of a product that is used, bought, or leased for use by a person for any purpose.(2) A package or a packaging component.(3) A bag, sack, wrap, or other thin plastic sheet film product.(4) A food or beverage container or a container component, including, but not limited to, a straw, lid, or utensil.(h) Supplier means a person who does one or more of the following:(1) Sells, offers for sale, or offers for promotional purposes a plastic product.(2) Takes title to a plastic product, produced either domestically or in a foreign country, that is purchased for resale or promotional purposes.
42356. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(a) ASTM means the ASTM International.
(b) (1) ASTM standard specification means either of the following:
(A) The ASTM Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities D6400, as published in 2019, except as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 42356.1.
(B) The ASTM Standard Specification for Labeling of End Items that Incorporate Plastics and Polymers as Coatings or Additives with Paper and Other Substrates Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities D6868, as published in 2019, except as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 42356.1.
(2) ASTM standard specification does not include an ASTM Standard Guide, a Standard Practice, or a Standard Test Method.
(c) Department means the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.
(d) Director means the Director of Resources Recycling and Recovery.
(e) Manufacturer means a person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation that produces a plastic product.
(f) OK compost HOME certification means certification of conformity with the existing TUV Austria certification OK compost HOME certification which, as of January 1, 2011, uses European Norm 13432 standard adapted to low-temperature composting in accordance with the TUV Austria program OK 2-Home Compostability of Products.
(g) Plastic product means a product made of plastic, whether alone or in combination with other material, including, but not limited to, paperboard. A plastic Product means a product designed to be associated with the recovery of desirable organic wastes, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, that are collected for composting. A product includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(1) (A) A consumer product.
(B) For purposes of this paragraph, consumer product means a product or part of a product that is used, bought, or leased for use by a person for any purpose.
(2) A package or a packaging component.
(3) A bag, sack, wrap, or other thin plastic sheet film product.
(4) A food or beverage container or a container component, including, but not limited to, a straw, lid, or utensil.
(h) Supplier means a person who does one or more of the following:
(1) Sells, offers for sale, or offers for promotional purposes a plastic product.
(2) Takes title to a plastic product, produced either domestically or in a foreign country, that is purchased for resale or promotional purposes.
SEC. 2.SEC. 3. Section 42357 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:42357. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), a person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless, at the time of sale or offering for sale, the plastic product meets the applicable ASTM standard specification, as specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 42356, or, if applicable, the plastic product has OK compost HOME certification, as provided in paragraph (4).(2) Compliance with only a section or a portion of a section of an applicable ASTM standard specification does not constitute compliance with paragraph (1).(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person may sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with a qualified claim for a term specified in paragraph (1), if the plastic product meets the relevant standard adopted by the department pursuant to Section 42356.2.(4) (A) A plastic product shall not be labeled with the term home compostable unless the manufacturer of that plastic product holds OK compost HOME certification with regard to that product, except as provided in subparagraph (B) or (C).(B) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the ASTM adopts a standard specification for the term home compostable on or before January 1, 2016, and the department determines that the ASTM standard specification is at least equal to, or more stringent than, the OK compost HOME certification, a plastic product labeled with the term home compostable shall meet that ASTM standard specification. The department may also take the actions specified in Section 42356.1 with regard to an ASTM standard for home compostability.(C) If the department adopts a standard pursuant to Section 42356.2, a plastic product labeled with the term home compostable shall meet that standard and not the standard specified in subparagraph (A) or (B).(b) Except as provided in subdivision (a) or (f), a person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable, or any form of those terms, or in any way imply that the plastic product will break down, fragment, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or other environment.(c) The director may issue guidelines, consistent with this chapter, for determining whether a plastic product is not compliant with the labeling requirements of this section, and whether a plastic product is designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.(d) A manufacturer or supplier, upon the request of a member of the public, shall submit to that member, within 90 days of the request, information and documentation demonstrating compliance with this chapter, in a format that is easy to understand and scientifically accurate.(e) A product that is in compliance with this chapter shall not, solely as a result of that compliance, be deemed to be in compliance with any other applicable marketing requirement or guideline established under state law or by the Federal Trade Commission.(f) (1) The department may adopt the European Committee for Standardizations standard specification EN 17033:2018 entitled PlasticsBiodegradable mulch films for use in agriculture and horticultureRequirements and test methods or may adopt a standard that is equivalent to, or more stringent than, that standard, as it read on January 1, 2020.(2) A person may sell or offer for sale commercial agricultural mulch film labeled with the term soil biodegradable only if the department has adopted the standard specification, or an equivalent or more stringent standard, pursuant to paragraph (1) and the commercial agricultural mulch film is certified to meet both that specification and the ASTM standard specification for compostability.(3) For purposes of this subdivision, commercial agricultural mulch film means film plastic that is used only as a technical tool in commercial farming applications.(g) (1) A person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless the product satisfies all of the following:(A) Has certification from the Biodegradable Products Institute, Compost Manufacturing Alliance, or another a third-party certification entity that is approved by the department for meeting compostability and toxicity standards.(B) On and after January 1, 2026, is an allowable agricultural organic input under the requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program and the Department of Food and Agricultures Organic Input Material Program. (USDA NOP) that has been reviewed and approved by a USDA NOP-accredited certifying agent for use in organic crop and food production. The director may grant a five-year extension for complying with this requirement if either of the following apply:(i) The plastic product has or will soon be, as determined by the director, included on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Sections 205.600 to 205.607, inclusive, of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations).(ii) The plastic product has or will soon be, as determined by the director, included as an allowable organic input for compost under federal law.(C) Does not include intentionally added have a total fluorine concentration of greater than 100 parts per million, unless the department adopts a different standard that it determines would more effectively limit the presence of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances.(D) Is labeled in a manner that clearly distinguishes the product from a noncompostable product upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities, and, where possible, that includes the word compostable, an approved third-party certification mark, and the use of green or brown colors.(2) The department may adopt regulations for plastic product labeling to ensure that plastic products labeled compostable or home compostable are clearly distinguishable from noncompostable products upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities. determining whether products comply with the requirements of subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1). The department, in adopting regulations pursuant to this subdivision, may consider the plastic whether the regulations are consistent with the product labeling requirements of other states, stakeholder input, and industry-standard guidelines to maximize consistency with those requirements and guidelines and that input when possible. guidelines. The regulations may include requirements that plastic products are not designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.
SEC. 2.SEC. 3. Section 42357 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:
### SEC. 2.SEC. 3.
42357. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), a person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless, at the time of sale or offering for sale, the plastic product meets the applicable ASTM standard specification, as specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 42356, or, if applicable, the plastic product has OK compost HOME certification, as provided in paragraph (4).(2) Compliance with only a section or a portion of a section of an applicable ASTM standard specification does not constitute compliance with paragraph (1).(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person may sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with a qualified claim for a term specified in paragraph (1), if the plastic product meets the relevant standard adopted by the department pursuant to Section 42356.2.(4) (A) A plastic product shall not be labeled with the term home compostable unless the manufacturer of that plastic product holds OK compost HOME certification with regard to that product, except as provided in subparagraph (B) or (C).(B) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the ASTM adopts a standard specification for the term home compostable on or before January 1, 2016, and the department determines that the ASTM standard specification is at least equal to, or more stringent than, the OK compost HOME certification, a plastic product labeled with the term home compostable shall meet that ASTM standard specification. The department may also take the actions specified in Section 42356.1 with regard to an ASTM standard for home compostability.(C) If the department adopts a standard pursuant to Section 42356.2, a plastic product labeled with the term home compostable shall meet that standard and not the standard specified in subparagraph (A) or (B).(b) Except as provided in subdivision (a) or (f), a person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable, or any form of those terms, or in any way imply that the plastic product will break down, fragment, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or other environment.(c) The director may issue guidelines, consistent with this chapter, for determining whether a plastic product is not compliant with the labeling requirements of this section, and whether a plastic product is designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.(d) A manufacturer or supplier, upon the request of a member of the public, shall submit to that member, within 90 days of the request, information and documentation demonstrating compliance with this chapter, in a format that is easy to understand and scientifically accurate.(e) A product that is in compliance with this chapter shall not, solely as a result of that compliance, be deemed to be in compliance with any other applicable marketing requirement or guideline established under state law or by the Federal Trade Commission.(f) (1) The department may adopt the European Committee for Standardizations standard specification EN 17033:2018 entitled PlasticsBiodegradable mulch films for use in agriculture and horticultureRequirements and test methods or may adopt a standard that is equivalent to, or more stringent than, that standard, as it read on January 1, 2020.(2) A person may sell or offer for sale commercial agricultural mulch film labeled with the term soil biodegradable only if the department has adopted the standard specification, or an equivalent or more stringent standard, pursuant to paragraph (1) and the commercial agricultural mulch film is certified to meet both that specification and the ASTM standard specification for compostability.(3) For purposes of this subdivision, commercial agricultural mulch film means film plastic that is used only as a technical tool in commercial farming applications.(g) (1) A person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless the product satisfies all of the following:(A) Has certification from the Biodegradable Products Institute, Compost Manufacturing Alliance, or another a third-party certification entity that is approved by the department for meeting compostability and toxicity standards.(B) On and after January 1, 2026, is an allowable agricultural organic input under the requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program and the Department of Food and Agricultures Organic Input Material Program. (USDA NOP) that has been reviewed and approved by a USDA NOP-accredited certifying agent for use in organic crop and food production. The director may grant a five-year extension for complying with this requirement if either of the following apply:(i) The plastic product has or will soon be, as determined by the director, included on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Sections 205.600 to 205.607, inclusive, of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations).(ii) The plastic product has or will soon be, as determined by the director, included as an allowable organic input for compost under federal law.(C) Does not include intentionally added have a total fluorine concentration of greater than 100 parts per million, unless the department adopts a different standard that it determines would more effectively limit the presence of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances.(D) Is labeled in a manner that clearly distinguishes the product from a noncompostable product upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities, and, where possible, that includes the word compostable, an approved third-party certification mark, and the use of green or brown colors.(2) The department may adopt regulations for plastic product labeling to ensure that plastic products labeled compostable or home compostable are clearly distinguishable from noncompostable products upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities. determining whether products comply with the requirements of subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1). The department, in adopting regulations pursuant to this subdivision, may consider the plastic whether the regulations are consistent with the product labeling requirements of other states, stakeholder input, and industry-standard guidelines to maximize consistency with those requirements and guidelines and that input when possible. guidelines. The regulations may include requirements that plastic products are not designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.
42357. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), a person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless, at the time of sale or offering for sale, the plastic product meets the applicable ASTM standard specification, as specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 42356, or, if applicable, the plastic product has OK compost HOME certification, as provided in paragraph (4).(2) Compliance with only a section or a portion of a section of an applicable ASTM standard specification does not constitute compliance with paragraph (1).(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person may sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with a qualified claim for a term specified in paragraph (1), if the plastic product meets the relevant standard adopted by the department pursuant to Section 42356.2.(4) (A) A plastic product shall not be labeled with the term home compostable unless the manufacturer of that plastic product holds OK compost HOME certification with regard to that product, except as provided in subparagraph (B) or (C).(B) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the ASTM adopts a standard specification for the term home compostable on or before January 1, 2016, and the department determines that the ASTM standard specification is at least equal to, or more stringent than, the OK compost HOME certification, a plastic product labeled with the term home compostable shall meet that ASTM standard specification. The department may also take the actions specified in Section 42356.1 with regard to an ASTM standard for home compostability.(C) If the department adopts a standard pursuant to Section 42356.2, a plastic product labeled with the term home compostable shall meet that standard and not the standard specified in subparagraph (A) or (B).(b) Except as provided in subdivision (a) or (f), a person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable, or any form of those terms, or in any way imply that the plastic product will break down, fragment, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or other environment.(c) The director may issue guidelines, consistent with this chapter, for determining whether a plastic product is not compliant with the labeling requirements of this section, and whether a plastic product is designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.(d) A manufacturer or supplier, upon the request of a member of the public, shall submit to that member, within 90 days of the request, information and documentation demonstrating compliance with this chapter, in a format that is easy to understand and scientifically accurate.(e) A product that is in compliance with this chapter shall not, solely as a result of that compliance, be deemed to be in compliance with any other applicable marketing requirement or guideline established under state law or by the Federal Trade Commission.(f) (1) The department may adopt the European Committee for Standardizations standard specification EN 17033:2018 entitled PlasticsBiodegradable mulch films for use in agriculture and horticultureRequirements and test methods or may adopt a standard that is equivalent to, or more stringent than, that standard, as it read on January 1, 2020.(2) A person may sell or offer for sale commercial agricultural mulch film labeled with the term soil biodegradable only if the department has adopted the standard specification, or an equivalent or more stringent standard, pursuant to paragraph (1) and the commercial agricultural mulch film is certified to meet both that specification and the ASTM standard specification for compostability.(3) For purposes of this subdivision, commercial agricultural mulch film means film plastic that is used only as a technical tool in commercial farming applications.(g) (1) A person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless the product satisfies all of the following:(A) Has certification from the Biodegradable Products Institute, Compost Manufacturing Alliance, or another a third-party certification entity that is approved by the department for meeting compostability and toxicity standards.(B) On and after January 1, 2026, is an allowable agricultural organic input under the requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program and the Department of Food and Agricultures Organic Input Material Program. (USDA NOP) that has been reviewed and approved by a USDA NOP-accredited certifying agent for use in organic crop and food production. The director may grant a five-year extension for complying with this requirement if either of the following apply:(i) The plastic product has or will soon be, as determined by the director, included on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Sections 205.600 to 205.607, inclusive, of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations).(ii) The plastic product has or will soon be, as determined by the director, included as an allowable organic input for compost under federal law.(C) Does not include intentionally added have a total fluorine concentration of greater than 100 parts per million, unless the department adopts a different standard that it determines would more effectively limit the presence of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances.(D) Is labeled in a manner that clearly distinguishes the product from a noncompostable product upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities, and, where possible, that includes the word compostable, an approved third-party certification mark, and the use of green or brown colors.(2) The department may adopt regulations for plastic product labeling to ensure that plastic products labeled compostable or home compostable are clearly distinguishable from noncompostable products upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities. determining whether products comply with the requirements of subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1). The department, in adopting regulations pursuant to this subdivision, may consider the plastic whether the regulations are consistent with the product labeling requirements of other states, stakeholder input, and industry-standard guidelines to maximize consistency with those requirements and guidelines and that input when possible. guidelines. The regulations may include requirements that plastic products are not designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.
42357. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), a person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless, at the time of sale or offering for sale, the plastic product meets the applicable ASTM standard specification, as specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 42356, or, if applicable, the plastic product has OK compost HOME certification, as provided in paragraph (4).(2) Compliance with only a section or a portion of a section of an applicable ASTM standard specification does not constitute compliance with paragraph (1).(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person may sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with a qualified claim for a term specified in paragraph (1), if the plastic product meets the relevant standard adopted by the department pursuant to Section 42356.2.(4) (A) A plastic product shall not be labeled with the term home compostable unless the manufacturer of that plastic product holds OK compost HOME certification with regard to that product, except as provided in subparagraph (B) or (C).(B) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the ASTM adopts a standard specification for the term home compostable on or before January 1, 2016, and the department determines that the ASTM standard specification is at least equal to, or more stringent than, the OK compost HOME certification, a plastic product labeled with the term home compostable shall meet that ASTM standard specification. The department may also take the actions specified in Section 42356.1 with regard to an ASTM standard for home compostability.(C) If the department adopts a standard pursuant to Section 42356.2, a plastic product labeled with the term home compostable shall meet that standard and not the standard specified in subparagraph (A) or (B).(b) Except as provided in subdivision (a) or (f), a person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable, or any form of those terms, or in any way imply that the plastic product will break down, fragment, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or other environment.(c) The director may issue guidelines, consistent with this chapter, for determining whether a plastic product is not compliant with the labeling requirements of this section, and whether a plastic product is designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.(d) A manufacturer or supplier, upon the request of a member of the public, shall submit to that member, within 90 days of the request, information and documentation demonstrating compliance with this chapter, in a format that is easy to understand and scientifically accurate.(e) A product that is in compliance with this chapter shall not, solely as a result of that compliance, be deemed to be in compliance with any other applicable marketing requirement or guideline established under state law or by the Federal Trade Commission.(f) (1) The department may adopt the European Committee for Standardizations standard specification EN 17033:2018 entitled PlasticsBiodegradable mulch films for use in agriculture and horticultureRequirements and test methods or may adopt a standard that is equivalent to, or more stringent than, that standard, as it read on January 1, 2020.(2) A person may sell or offer for sale commercial agricultural mulch film labeled with the term soil biodegradable only if the department has adopted the standard specification, or an equivalent or more stringent standard, pursuant to paragraph (1) and the commercial agricultural mulch film is certified to meet both that specification and the ASTM standard specification for compostability.(3) For purposes of this subdivision, commercial agricultural mulch film means film plastic that is used only as a technical tool in commercial farming applications.(g) (1) A person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless the product satisfies all of the following:(A) Has certification from the Biodegradable Products Institute, Compost Manufacturing Alliance, or another a third-party certification entity that is approved by the department for meeting compostability and toxicity standards.(B) On and after January 1, 2026, is an allowable agricultural organic input under the requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program and the Department of Food and Agricultures Organic Input Material Program. (USDA NOP) that has been reviewed and approved by a USDA NOP-accredited certifying agent for use in organic crop and food production. The director may grant a five-year extension for complying with this requirement if either of the following apply:(i) The plastic product has or will soon be, as determined by the director, included on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Sections 205.600 to 205.607, inclusive, of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations).(ii) The plastic product has or will soon be, as determined by the director, included as an allowable organic input for compost under federal law.(C) Does not include intentionally added have a total fluorine concentration of greater than 100 parts per million, unless the department adopts a different standard that it determines would more effectively limit the presence of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances.(D) Is labeled in a manner that clearly distinguishes the product from a noncompostable product upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities, and, where possible, that includes the word compostable, an approved third-party certification mark, and the use of green or brown colors.(2) The department may adopt regulations for plastic product labeling to ensure that plastic products labeled compostable or home compostable are clearly distinguishable from noncompostable products upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities. determining whether products comply with the requirements of subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1). The department, in adopting regulations pursuant to this subdivision, may consider the plastic whether the regulations are consistent with the product labeling requirements of other states, stakeholder input, and industry-standard guidelines to maximize consistency with those requirements and guidelines and that input when possible. guidelines. The regulations may include requirements that plastic products are not designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.
42357. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), a person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless, at the time of sale or offering for sale, the plastic product meets the applicable ASTM standard specification, as specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 42356, or, if applicable, the plastic product has OK compost HOME certification, as provided in paragraph (4).
(2) Compliance with only a section or a portion of a section of an applicable ASTM standard specification does not constitute compliance with paragraph (1).
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person may sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with a qualified claim for a term specified in paragraph (1), if the plastic product meets the relevant standard adopted by the department pursuant to Section 42356.2.
(4) (A) A plastic product shall not be labeled with the term home compostable unless the manufacturer of that plastic product holds OK compost HOME certification with regard to that product, except as provided in subparagraph (B) or (C).
(B) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the ASTM adopts a standard specification for the term home compostable on or before January 1, 2016, and the department determines that the ASTM standard specification is at least equal to, or more stringent than, the OK compost HOME certification, a plastic product labeled with the term home compostable shall meet that ASTM standard specification. The department may also take the actions specified in Section 42356.1 with regard to an ASTM standard for home compostability.
(C) If the department adopts a standard pursuant to Section 42356.2, a plastic product labeled with the term home compostable shall meet that standard and not the standard specified in subparagraph (A) or (B).
(b) Except as provided in subdivision (a) or (f), a person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable, or any form of those terms, or in any way imply that the plastic product will break down, fragment, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or other environment.
(c) The director may issue guidelines, consistent with this chapter, for determining whether a plastic product is not compliant with the labeling requirements of this section, and whether a plastic product is designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.
(d) A manufacturer or supplier, upon the request of a member of the public, shall submit to that member, within 90 days of the request, information and documentation demonstrating compliance with this chapter, in a format that is easy to understand and scientifically accurate.
(e) A product that is in compliance with this chapter shall not, solely as a result of that compliance, be deemed to be in compliance with any other applicable marketing requirement or guideline established under state law or by the Federal Trade Commission.
(f) (1) The department may adopt the European Committee for Standardizations standard specification EN 17033:2018 entitled PlasticsBiodegradable mulch films for use in agriculture and horticultureRequirements and test methods or may adopt a standard that is equivalent to, or more stringent than, that standard, as it read on January 1, 2020.
(2) A person may sell or offer for sale commercial agricultural mulch film labeled with the term soil biodegradable only if the department has adopted the standard specification, or an equivalent or more stringent standard, pursuant to paragraph (1) and the commercial agricultural mulch film is certified to meet both that specification and the ASTM standard specification for compostability.
(3) For purposes of this subdivision, commercial agricultural mulch film means film plastic that is used only as a technical tool in commercial farming applications.
(g) (1) A person shall not sell or offer for sale a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term compostable or home compostable unless the product satisfies all of the following:
(A) Has certification from the Biodegradable Products Institute, Compost Manufacturing Alliance, or another a third-party certification entity that is approved by the department for meeting compostability and toxicity standards.
(B) On and after January 1, 2026, is an allowable agricultural organic input under the requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program and the Department of Food and Agricultures Organic Input Material Program. (USDA NOP) that has been reviewed and approved by a USDA NOP-accredited certifying agent for use in organic crop and food production. The director may grant a five-year extension for complying with this requirement if either of the following apply:
(i) The plastic product has or will soon be, as determined by the director, included on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Sections 205.600 to 205.607, inclusive, of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations).
(ii) The plastic product has or will soon be, as determined by the director, included as an allowable organic input for compost under federal law.
(C) Does not include intentionally added have a total fluorine concentration of greater than 100 parts per million, unless the department adopts a different standard that it determines would more effectively limit the presence of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances.
(D) Is labeled in a manner that clearly distinguishes the product from a noncompostable product upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities, and, where possible, that includes the word compostable, an approved third-party certification mark, and the use of green or brown colors.
(2) The department may adopt regulations for plastic product labeling to ensure that plastic products labeled compostable or home compostable are clearly distinguishable from noncompostable products upon quick inspection by consumers and solid waste processing facilities. determining whether products comply with the requirements of subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1). The department, in adopting regulations pursuant to this subdivision, may consider the plastic whether the regulations are consistent with the product labeling requirements of other states, stakeholder input, and industry-standard guidelines to maximize consistency with those requirements and guidelines and that input when possible. guidelines. The regulations may include requirements that plastic products are not designed, pigmented, or advertised in a manner that is misleading to consumers.