Time to take action! If you're not already familiar with SB 54, otherwise known as the “Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act," we've got you – our Plastic Pollution Senior Manager Miho Ligare sits on the advisory board and provides the background, her role, and why we need action now.
If you know about SB 54, then let's jump straight to it: Industry wants to continue business as usual and is trying to stop the process and is targeting the Governor’s Office to halt the process. We need your help today:
Call Governor Newsom at (916) 445-2841 and select option 6 to speak to a representative or leave a voicemail: “We want the SB 54 regulations to move forward without delay so California can continue to be a global leader in addressing plastic pollution.”
Great! Now, for our interview with Miho...
Hello, Miho! First, congratulations on your new-ish role as Plastic Pollution Initiative Senior Manager! Thanks for making time to update our California membership on SB 54, otherwise known as the “Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act.”
Thanks, Jen! For background, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 54 into law on June 30, 2022, with the aim to address the impacts of single-use packaging and plastic food service ware. This landmark packaging law requires that by 2032 California makes the following changes related to single-use plastics:
- Reduce single-use plastic packaging and foodware by 25%
- Recycle 65% of single-use plastic packaging and foodware
- Ensure 100% of single-use plastic packaging and foodware is recyclable or compostable
Additionally, the law is intended to shift the plastic pollution burden from consumers to producers by raising $5 billion from industry members over 10 years.
Miho, let’s talk about your role on the SB 54 advisory board. What is that, who’s on it, and what influence does the board have on how SB 54 is implemented?
The SB 54 advisory board is a 16-member board appointed by the CalRecycle director and is made up of diverse stakeholders ranging from environmental and environmental justice organizations, local government, manufacturers to retail and grocery association, and others. Our main role is to advise CalRecycle, producers, and producer responsibility organizations on SB 54 implementation, so it’s a lot of reviewing documents and providing input at public meetings.
I represent the ocean advocacy seat, so I'm in many coalition meetings with other organizations to make sure that we’re well coordinated to advocate for the strongest implementation of the law.
From left. Back: Doug Kobold, Ajit Perera, Neil S. Edgar, Timothy Burroughs, and Patrick Keenan. Front: Miho Ligare, Erin Levine, Tedd Ward, Christy Pestoni, and Veronica Pardo. Not pictured: Thomas A. Helme, Fred Briones, Wes Carter, Rachel Michelin, Timothy James, and Shane Buckingham.
Image Credit: CalRecycle
What about single-use polystyrene? Is it true that it was banned as of the first of this year?
Great question! Yes, under the law, since producers of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam foodware were unable to show CalRecycle that they met a 25% recycling rate, it is now banned statewide (Hurray!) Surfrider and others have been asking CalRecycle to take a firmer stance and make it clear publicly.
Got it. So where in the process are we now, nearly three years since the law passed?
CalRecycle has led a thorough process over the past couple of years to draft the regulations that the agency will use to implement SB 54 and it’s in its final phase.
After multiple rounds of fine-tuning the draft regulations during the formal rulemaking process over the past nine months, CalRecycle has until March 8, 2025 to submit it to the Office of Administrative Law.
We’re getting close! But could use everyone’s help in making sure that they are submitted!
Industry wants to continue business as usual and is trying to stop the process and is targeting the Governor’s Office to halt the process. We need your help to generate calls this week to Governor Newsom’s office to make sure that he hears from supportive Californians and does not interfere with implementing the regulations.
Actions need to be taken now to prevent plastic pollution and industry needs to start taking accountability for the harms that they have caused to California’s communities and environment. Here’s what to do:
- Call Governor Newsom at (916) 445-2841 and select option 6 to speak to a representative or leave a voicemail: “We want the SB 54 regulations to move forward without delay so California can continue to be a global leader in addressing plastic pollution.”
- Feel free to use or make the below scripts your own:
Sample Script 1 – End Plastic Pollution
Hi, my name is __, I am calling from [your city]. I’m urging Governor Newsom not to intervene, and to allow CalRecycle to finalize the regulations for SB 54 by March 8th without delay. I’m worried about the impact of plastic pollution on the environment, our communities, and even within our own bodies. The Governor’s leadership on this issue has been critical – please stay the course on tackling plastic pollution!
Sample Script 2 – Reducing Consumer Costs
Hi, my name is __, I am calling from [your city]. I am urging Governor Newsom not to intervene and allow CalRecycle to finalize the regulations for SB 54 by March 8th without delay. I’m worried about rising costs of waste management in my city and know that SB 54 will help reduce waste and costs by holding producers accountable. The Governor’s leadership on this issue has been critical – please stay the course on tackling plastic pollution!
Thank you!