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Speakers at statewide webinar say SB 54 implementation stalled by withdrawn regulations, warn of heavy penalties for noncompliance
Summary
Authors, local officials and the producer responsibility organization told a statewide webinar that delayed CalRecycle regulations have postponed SB 54 implementation, outlined enforcement risks (civil penalties up to $50,000 per day per uncovered category), and urged local governments to begin planning for collection and reimbursement now.
Sen. Allen, author of Senate Bill 54, and local government leaders told a webinar audience that implementation of California’s packaging extended producer responsibility law has been slowed by recent regulatory withdrawals, leaving local governments without clarity on which materials they must accept and how enforcement will be applied.
At the Feb. 2026 webinar hosted by the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), Sen. Allen said regulators pulled a draft package of CalRecycle regulations "earlier this month," and called the regulatory setbacks "entirely avoidable and unforced error," urging continued engagement from local governments and producers to finalize the rules. "Every day that passes without implementation, our rate payers are gonna be paying the price," Sen. Allen said, framing the law as intended to shift long‑term costs to producers and reduce local fiscal burdens.
John Kennedy of the Rural County Representatives of California, speaking for…
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