Plain English Breakdown
The official text contains conflicting dates ('January 1, June 30') regarding when the plastic ban takes effect; this uncertainty is preserved in limits_and_unknowns.
AB-1812: Rules for Compostable Product Labels
This law changes the rules for selling products labeled as compostable and bans plastic items with those labels starting June 30, 2027.
What This Bill Does
- Requires products labeled 'compostable' or 'home compostable' to have OK Compost HOME certification or meet a standard adopted by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.
- Removes the requirement for the department to review changes to ASTM specifications.
- Allows the department to adopt standards from recognized groups that are different from ASTM rules, without requiring them to be more stringent than ASTM.
- Exempts fiber products with no plastic or polymers from labeling requirements unless a specific standard is adopted for compostable fiber products.
- Bans selling any product labeled 'compostable' or 'home compostable' if it contains plastic on and after June 30, 2027.
- Removes current rules that require special labels on compostable bags meeting ASTM standards.
Who It Names or Affects
- Businesses and people who sell products labeled as 'compostable' or 'home compostable'.
- Food service establishments using plastic single-use items.
- The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery regarding standard adoption rules.
- Local governments that regulate food service ware.
Terms To Know
- OK Compost HOME certification
- A specific approval showing a product can break down in home composting conditions, now required for certain labels.
- ASTM standard specification
- Technical rules created by the American Society for Testing and Materials that are no longer strictly required under this new law.
- Fiber product
- Items made from plant-based materials like paper or wood, which may be exempt if they contain no plastic.
Limits and Unknowns
- The official text lists both 'January 1' and 'June 30' as potential start dates for the ban on labeled plastic products.
- Local governments can still require compostable or reusable items even if a business uses the recycling exemption.