CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

99

Introduced by Assembly Member Gabriel

February 21, 2025

An act relating to recycling.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: no   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law establishes the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act, which requires that every beverage container sold or offered for sale in this state have a refund value. The act requires a beverage distributor to pay a redemption payment to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery for every beverage container sold or offered for sale in the state to a dealer, and requires the department to deposit those amounts in the California Beverage Container Recycling Fund.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation to implement policies to encourage the use of in-state collected plastic beverage container materials for reuse in manufacturing and packaging in state.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

(a) The Legislature find and declares all of the following:

(1) The plastic reclaiming industry is vital for reducing plastic waste and promoting environmental sustainability.

(2) A closed-loop recycling system ensures that plastic materials are continuously reused, reducing the need for virgin plastic production and minimizing environmental impact.

(3) Supporting the plastic reclaiming industry and closed-loop recycling will create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and protect California’s natural resources.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation to implement policies to encourage the use of in-state collected plastic beverage container materials for reuse in manufacturing and packaging in state.