Plastics have been a cost-effective material with many uses in our society.
However, plastic pollution can harm our environment and human health.
Recycling Plastic
- Items made from different plastic types cannot be recycled together.
- Some items made of multi-layers or pieces of different plastic types cannot be separated for recycling.
- Plastic degrades every time it is recycled, so it usually only gets recycled once or twice.
- Recent issues like international restrictions on importing plastics have impacted the demand for plastic recyclables.
Learn more about recycling in California: State of Disposal and Recycling in California Report.
CalRecycle Programs
CalRecycle works to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic and other resources to protect California’s environment and build a circular economy across all materials.
CalRecycle addresses plastic waste in a number of ways, including:
- Packaging programs manage multiple materials, including plastics.
- Single-Use Carryout Bags (SB 270).In 2016, California voters upheld the nation’s first state ban on single-use plastic bags, aligning state law with many local ordinances to cut plastic waste.
- Plastic Trash Bags. Certain trash bags must contain at least 10% recycled plastic.
- Beverage Container Recycling Program includes some plastic beverage containers. Consumers pay California Refund Value (CRV) on eligible beverage containers — refundable when they are returned.
- Plastic Market Development Payments. California processors and manufacturers may receive incentive payments for recycled CRV plastic for new products. Notices |Regulations|Public Resources Code
- Recycled Fiber, Plastic, and Glass Grants and Loans. Helps lower climate pollution by expanding or building new facilities that manufacture products using California-generated recycled fiber, plastic, or glass.
California is addressing plastic waste by building a circular economy with efforts to:
- Cut the amount of plastic waste made.
- Invest and expand domestic recycling.
- Increase market demand for recycled plastic by using more recycled content.
- Focus on reuse and refilling rather than single-use products.
- Launch Extended Producer Responsibility programs that make producers responsible for end-of-life management of plastic packaging.
Other Information
For more information, contact plastics@calrecycle.ca.gov.
