California SB54, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, is one of the most ambitious packaging EPR laws in the United States. It applies to any company — manufacturer, brand owner, or importer — that sells packaged products in California with annual gross sales exceeding $1 million. Core obligations began taking effect in 2024, with the first compliance period fee payments due to CalRecycle by July 2027. Producers must register with CalRecycle, reduce single-use plastic packaging by 25% by 2032, ensure 65% of all single-use packaging is recyclable or compostable by 2032, and achieve interim recycling rate targets of 30% by 2028 and 40% by 2030. Producers pay eco-modulated fees into a state fund based on packaging material type and recyclability, supporting California's recycling infrastructure and environmental remediation programs.
By Kevin Kai Wong, Managing Partner, gCurv Technologies
Packgine automates producer registration tracking, material reporting, fee calculation, and CalRecycle-formatted documentation.
Reduce single-use plastic packaging by weight by 2032, measured against the 2023 baseline.
Single-use packaging and food service ware must meet CalRecycle recyclability or compostability criteria.
30% by 2028, 40% by 2030, 65% by 2032 for covered materials, measured on real-world outcomes.
Fees adjusted based on recyclability, recycled content, and environmental performance of your packaging.
Report material type, weight, recyclability, recycled content, and source reduction progress to the PRO.
CalRecycle enforcement authority includes substantial fines for non-registration, missed reports, or non-compliance.
Auto-detects producer coverage status based on sales data and company profile
Manages packaging data at SKU level with California-specific recyclability scoring
Calculates projected fees with eco-modulation adjustments using current rate schedules
Generates CalRecycle-formatted reports ready for PRO submission
Tracks SB54 deadlines alongside other state obligations in a unified compliance calendar
Models financial impact of packaging changes on SB54 fee obligations through scenario planning
Under California SB54, a covered producer is any company that manufactures, sells, or distributes packaged products in California with annual gross sales above $1 million. This includes out-of-state brands selling into California via e-commerce, DTC, or retail.
Covered producers must register with CalRecycle. The first compliance period fee payment deadline is July 2027. Annual registration renewal and reporting obligations follow a calendar year cycle. Packgine maintains current deadline status and alerts you before each obligation is due.
CalRecycle requires producers to report total packaging placed on the California market by material type and weight, recyclability classification per CalRecycle's approved list, source reduction progress toward the 25% plastic reduction target, and total California-attributed sales data.
SB54 fees are based on the weight of covered packaging placed on the California market multiplied by material-specific fee rates set by CalRecycle. Eco-modulation adjustments reduce fees for packaging that meets recyclability and recycled content thresholds. Packgine calculates your SB54 fee exposure automatically.
SB54 requires that 30% of single-use plastic packaging be recycled by 2028, 40% by 2030, and 65% by 2032. Separately, producers must achieve a 25% source reduction in single-use plastic packaging by 2032. Packgine tracks your progress against each interim target.
Yes. Packgine automates CalRecycle producer registration, annual reporting in CalRecycle's required format, fee calculation with eco-modulation, and source reduction tracking. All SB54 obligations are managed alongside other state and EU requirements from a single dashboard.
Yes. Packgine was designed for multi-jurisdiction compliance. SB54, Oregon SB582, Colorado HB22-1355, and all other active US EPR programs are managed simultaneously. Adding or removing jurisdictions requires no manual reconfiguration.
CalRecycle can seek civil penalties of up to $50,000 per day per violation for producers who fail to register or comply with SB54 requirements. Repeated or willful violations carry higher penalty exposure. Non-compliant producers may also be barred from selling covered products in California.
Content reviewed by Kevin Kai Wong, Managing Partner at gCurv Technologies
Automate California EPR compliance alongside all other US states and EU markets from a single platform.