CHAPTER 5.4. Plastic Trash Bags [42290. - 42298.]

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 5.4.

in effect

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 42290. Section 42290.

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meaning: (a) “Manufacturer” means a person who manufactures plastic trash bags for sale in this state. (b) (1) “Plastic trash bag” means a bag that is manufactured for intended use as a container to hold, store, or transport materials to be discarded, composted, or recycled, including, but not limited to, garbage bags, composting bags, lawn and leaf bags, can-liner bags, kitchen bags, compactor bags, and recycling bags. (2) A plastic trash bag does not include a grocery sack or any other bag that is manufactured for intended use as a container to hold, store, or transport food. (3) A plastic trash bag does not include any plastic bag that is used for the purpose of containing either of the following wastes: (A) “Hazardous waste,” as defined in Section 25117 of the Health and Safety Code. (B) “Medical waste,” as defined in Section 117690 of the Health and Safety Code. (c) “Postconsumer material” means a finished product that would normally be disposed of as solid waste, having completed its intended end-use and product life cycle. “Postconsumer material” does not include manufacturing and fabrication scrap. (d) “Regulated bag” means a plastic trash bag of 0.70 mil or greater thickness that is intended for sale in the state. (e) “Wholesaler” means any person who purchases plastic trash bags from a manufacturer for resale in this state.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 42290.5. Section 42290.5.

To encourage waste diversion of polyethylene from California landfills as well as to encourage California’s postconsumer market development, it is the intent of the Legislature that any certification of postconsumer materials used for compliance with this chapter not be the same materials that are certified or used for compliance with any other state requirement or with any federal requirement that requires the use or reporting of postconsumer materials for plastic products.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 42291. Section 42291.

(a) Until January 1, 1998, every manufacturer that manufactures plastic trash bags of 0.75 mil or greater thickness for sale in this state shall ensure that at least 30 percent of the material used in those plastic trash bags is recycled plastic postconsumer material. (b) (1) On and after January 1, 1998, the manufacturer’s required use of recycled plastic postconsumer material shall be determined pursuant to paragraph (2). Compliance by a manufacturer with either alternative shall be deemed to be compliance with this subdivision. (2) Every manufacturer of regulated bags shall do one of the following: (A) Ensure that its plastic trash bags intended for sale in this state contain a quantity of recycled plastic postconsumer material equal to at least 10 percent of the weight of the regulated bags. (B) Ensure that at least 30 percent of the weight of the material used in all of its plastic products intended for sale in this state is recycled plastic postconsumer material. (3) Beginning March 1, 1999, and annually thereafter, every manufacturer subject to this subdivision shall certify to the board that it has used the required amount of recycled plastic postconsumer material annually in compliance with paragraph (2). (c) Any certification of postconsumer materials used for compliance with this chapter shall not include any materials that are certified or used for compliance with any other state or federal requirement that requires the use or reporting of postconsumer materials for any plastic products. (d) If any manufacturer subject to this section is unable to obtain sufficient amounts of recycled plastic postconsumer material to comply with this section within a reporting period because of unavailability or because the available material did not meet recycled plastic postconsumer material quality standards adopted by the board, the manufacturer shall certify that fact to the board. Each manufacturer making that certification shall make a reasonable effort to identify available supplies of material before submitting certification to the board. (e) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that although the changes made to this section by the act amending this section during the 1998 portion of the 1997–98 Regular Session become effective after January 1, 1998, it is the intent of the Legislature that the new requirements specified in subdivision (b) be effective as of January 1, 1998. The Legislature further finds that this change is requested by the manufacturers subject to this section and that the retroactive effect of these changes will not cause any hardship on any manufacturer subject to this section, or cause any manufacturer to be subject to regulatory action as a result of these changes, but rather, would instead have the effect of preventing hardship to the manufacturers regulated by this section.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 42291.5. Section 42291.5.

For each pound of recycled plastic postconsumer material purchased from a source of recycled plastic postconsumer material in this state for use in the manufacture of plastic trash bags, or other products manufactured with recycled plastic postconsumer material in compliance with this chapter, the board shall credit the manufacturer certifying pursuant to Section 42293 with having used 1.2 pounds of recycled plastic postconsumer material toward compliance with the requirements of Section 42291.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 42292. Section 42292.

Each manufacturer shall obtain from its suppliers of recycled plastic postconsumer material for use in the manufacture of plastic trash bags, or other products manufactured with recycled plastic postconsumer material in compliance with this chapter, a statement identifying the quantity, source location, and proximate prior usage of, and the actual postconsumer material content of, each shipment of recycled plastic postconsumer material purchased by the manufacturer, and any other information that the board, may, by regulation, require the manufacturer to obtain from its suppliers, for purposes of inclusion in the annual report required by Section 42293.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 42293. Section 42293.

(a) On or before March 1, 1999, and annually thereafter, each manufacturer subject to this chapter shall submit a report to the board certifying that it has complied with Section 42291 during the preceding calendar year, certifying the name and physical location of each of its suppliers of recycled plastic postconsumer material for use in the manufacture of plastic trash bags, or other products manufactured with recycled plastic postconsumer material in compliance with this chapter, and containing the information obtained pursuant to Section 42292 and any other information that the board may require by regulation. Any manufacturer that processes its own recycled plastic postconsumer material shall certify to the board that it is the supplier of the material. (b) On or before October 1, 2001, the board shall survey manufacturers subject to this section and, notwithstanding Section 7550.5 of the Government Code, report back to the Legislature. The survey shall do all of the following: (1) Identify the name and physical location of suppliers certified by manufacturers pursuant to subdivision (a). (2) Identify the quantity of recycled plastic postconsumer material provided by suppliers within the state and the quantity of the material provided by suppliers outside the state. (3) Provide recommendations regarding recycled plastic postconsumer material content requirements based on the availability of that material. (4) Identify gauge thickness of all regulated bags. (5) Determine national production versus production of a separate line for California.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 42294. Section 42294.

(a) Every wholesaler of plastic trash bags of 1.0 mil or greater thickness sold in this state shall certify to the board the name and physical location of each manufacturer from whom it purchased plastic trash bags for purposes of inclusion in the annual report required by subdivision (c). (b) On and after January 1, 1995, every wholesaler of trash bags of 0.75 mil or greater thickness sold in this state shall certify to the board the name and physical location of each manufacturer from whom it purchased plastic trash bags for purposes of inclusion in the annual report required by subdivision (c). (c) On or before March 1, 1994, and annually thereafter, each wholesaler shall submit a report to the board containing the certification required by this section for the preceding calendar year, together with any other information that the board may require by regulation.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 42295. Section 42295.

Each supplier, manufacturer, and wholesaler required to provide a certification or any information pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to audit by the board.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 42296. Section 42296.

(a) If any supplier provides a manufacturer with false or misleading information, the board, within 30 days of determining that fact, shall refer the false or misleading information to the Attorney General for prosecution for fraud. (b) If any manufacturer or wholesaler provides the board with a false or misleading certification or other information, the board, within 30 days of determining that fact, shall refer the false or misleading certification or information to the Attorney General for prosecution for fraud.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 42297. Section 42297.

(a) The board may adopt such regulations as it determines are necessary to more specifically define terms for purposes of the chapter and to otherwise implement this chapter. (b) Annually on or before July 1, the board shall publish a list of any suppliers, manufacturers, or wholesalers who have failed to comply with this chapter. (c) (1) Any supplier, manufacturer, or wholesaler, and any of its divisions, subsidiaries, or successors, who fails to comply with this chapter, shall be ineligible for the award of any state contract or subcontract, or for the renewal, extension, or modification of an existing contract or subcontract, until the board determines that it is in compliance with this chapter. (2) No state agency shall solicit offers from, award contracts to, or renew, extend, or modify a current contract or subcontract with, any supplier, manufacturer, or wholesaler, or any of its divisions, subsidiaries, or successors, who fails to comply with this chapter until the board determines that it is in compliance with this chapter.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 42298. Section 42298.

A plastic bag that is labeled with a term specified in subdivision (a) of Section 42357 and that meets the current ASTM standard specified for that term, as defined in Section 42356, is exempt from the requirements of this chapter.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026