CHAPTER 2. Containers and Packaging [18010. - 18017.]

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 2.
in effect

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 18010. Section 18010.

“Rigid plastic container” means any formed or molded article comprised predominantly of plastic resin and having a relatively inflexible finite shape or form intended primarily as a single service container with a capacity of eight ounces or more and less than five gallons.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 18011. Section 18011.

“Rigid plastic bottle” means any rigid plastic container with a neck that is smaller than the container body with a capacity of 16 ounces or more and less than five gallons.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 18013. Section 18013.

“Polyethylene terephthalate” means a plastic derived from a reaction between terephthalic acid or dimethyl terephthalate and monoethylene glycol as to which both of the following conditions are satisfied: (a) The terephthalic acid or dimethyl terephthalate and monoethylene glycol reacted constitutes at least 90 percent of the mass of the monomer reacted to form the polymer. (b) The plastic exhibits a melting peak temperature that is between 225 degrees Celsius and 255 degrees Celsius, as determined during the second thermal scan using procedure 10.1 as set forth in ASTM International (ASTM) D3418 with a heating rate of a sample at 10 degrees Celsius per minute. (c) This section becomes operative on October 1, 2018.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 18015. Section 18015.

(a) All rigid plastic bottles and rigid plastic containers sold in the state shall be labeled with a code that indicates the resin used to produce the rigid plastic bottle or rigid plastic container. Rigid plastic bottles or rigid plastic containers with labels and basecups of a different material shall be coded by their basic material. The code shall consist of a number placed inside a triangle, and letters placed below the triangle. The numbers and letters used shall be as follows: 1 = PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) 2 = HDPE (high density polyethylene) 3 = V (vinyl) 4 = LDPE (low density polyethylene) 5 = PP (polypropylene) 6 = PS (polystyrene) 7 = OTHER (includes multilayer) (b) A “7” shall appear below the resin abbreviation when the bottle or container is composed of more than one layer of that resin. (c) The Division of Recycling in the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery shall maintain a list of abbreviations used on labels pursuant to subdivision (a) and shall provide a copy of that list to a person upon request. (d) The resin identification code required pursuant to subdivision (a) shall not be placed inside a chasing arrows symbol, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 17580 of the Business and Professions Code, unless the rigid plastic bottle or rigid plastic container meets the statewide recyclability criteria provided in subdivision (d) of Section 42355.51.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 18016. Section 18016.

On and after January 1, 1992, it is unlawful to manufacture for use in this state any rigid plastic container which is not labeled in accordance with Section 18015. A violation of this section is a crime punishable by a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000).

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 18017. Section 18017.

This division does not apply to rigid plastic containers or rigid plastic bottles that are medical devices, medical products that are required to be sterile, prescription medicine, and packaging used for those products.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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