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AB-473 • 2026

Environmental advertising: recyclability.

Environmental advertising: recyclability.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Wilson
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide information about what happens after January 1, 2032.

Environmental Advertising: Recyclability

This law changes how products and packaging can be advertised as recyclable in California by removing a rule that allowed them to be called recyclable if they were part of a state or federal program.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the current rule allowing products or packaging to be called recyclable if they are part of a state or federal program, even if they do not meet other criteria.
  • Before January 1, 2027, requires producers to get approval from a producer responsibility organization for their products to be advertised as recyclable in California.
  • From January 1, 2027, until January 1, 2032, needs producers to follow the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act to call their products or packaging recyclable.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Producers of products and packaging in California.
  • Consumers who buy products with recycling claims.

Terms To Know

Producer responsibility organization
An organization that checks if producers are following rules about making their products recyclable.
Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act
A law that sets requirements for reducing plastic waste and making packaging more sustainable.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens after January 1, 2032.
  • It is unclear how this will affect products from outside California.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-02-18 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

  4. 2025-02-07 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 9.

  5. 2025-02-06 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 473, as introduced, Wilson.
Environmental advertising: recyclability.
Existing law prohibits a person from offering for sale, selling, distributing, or importing into the state any product or packaging for which a deceptive or misleading claim about the recyclability of the product or packaging is made. Existing law provides that a product or packaging that displays a chasing arrows symbol, among other symbols, statements, or directions, is deemed to be a deceptive or misleading claim unless (1) the product or packaging is considered recyclable in the state pursuant to specified criteria and (2) is of a material type and form that routinely becomes feedstock used in the production of new products or packaging, except as provided. Existing law, notwithstanding specified criteria, provides that a product or packaging is recyclable in the state if the product or packaging is part of, and in compliance with, a program established pursuant to state or federal law
governing the recyclability or disposal of that product or packaging, as provided.
This bill would delete the latter provision and would, notwithstanding specified provisions, require, before January 1, 2027, that a product or packaging that is a covered material, as defined, be considered recyclable in the state if the producer is approved by a producer responsibility organization to participate in that organization. On or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2032, the bill would require, notwithstanding specified provisions, that a product or packaging that is a covered material be considered recyclable in the state if the producer is, among other things, in compliance with the requirements of the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF