California Plastic Packaging Law Faces Pushback Over Cost and Oversight Concerns
California's landmark plastic reduction law, SB 54, is encountering significant opposition regarding its implementation costs and the oversight of the nonprofit tasked with its rollout. More than two dozen California Assembly Democrats and one state senator have sent a letter to legislative leaders, urging a two-year delay in fee assessment and collection under the law. The law, signed four years ago, aims to phase out 25% of non-recyclable, non-compostable plastic packaging by 2032. The Circular Action Alliance, a nonprofit, was appointed to draft a plan to achieve these goals, estimating the work would cost $17.2 billion over five years and requesting a three-year exemption from the source-reduction deadline. Industry groups, however, contend that the compliance costs could be tens of billions higher than state estimates, potentially increasing consumer costs by $683 to $948 annually, significantly more than the state's projected $190. Critics also raise concerns about the lack of public oversight for th... 
