On May 1, 2026, CalRecycle announced final regulations implementing SB 54, published a new Producer Guidance website, and launched a new online portal.  

As a reminder, SB 54 is California’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) law for packaging, and its official name is the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act.

Final SB 54 Regulations

CalRecycle announced that final regulations implementing SB 54 have been approved and will take effect on May 1, 2026.  More information on the rulemaking can be found here.

New Producer Guidance Website

CalRecycle also published a new Producer Guidance website.  Among other things, the new website specifies that, given the May 1 effective date of the regulations, producers will have until June 1, 2026, to do one of the following:

• If participating in the approved producer responsibility organization (PRO) plan, register with Circular Action Alliance (CAA) and submit supply data to CAA. 

• If complying individually, register with CalRecycle and apply to be an independent producer.

• If qualifying for an exemption for a small producer, register with CalRecycle and apply for the small producer exemption.

The new website also indicates that the following guidance for producers will be forthcoming: 

• Identifying Covered Materials

• Are You a Producer? A situational screening tool for California’s packaging law

New Online Portal

CalRecycle also launched the Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility System (PEPRS), a new CalRecycle online portal for producer registration, data submission, and compliance tracking.  More information can be found on the Producer Guidance website.

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