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AB-473 • 2026

Environmental advertising: recyclability.

Environmental advertising: recyclability.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Wilson
Last action
Official status
Assembly - Died - Natural Resources
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The source states the bill 'would' require certain actions but does not confirm if it has been signed into law or when it takes effect.

AB-473: Rules for Recycling Claims on Products

This law changes how products can be labeled as recyclable by removing an old rule about state or federal programs and setting new requirements based on producer participation in specific organizations.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the rule that says a product is automatically recyclable if it follows any state or federal disposal program.
  • Sets a deadline of January 1, 2027, for producers to get approval from a producer responsibility organization to call their covered materials recyclable.
  • Requires compliance with the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act between January 1, 2027, and January 1, 2032, for products to be considered recyclable.
  • Keeps existing laws that ban selling or importing items with false claims about how well they can be recycled.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Producers of covered materials who sell or distribute products in the state.
  • Producer responsibility organizations that approve producers for participation before January 1, 2027.
  • Businesses that import, offer for sale, or distribute packaging with recycling symbols like chasing arrows.

Terms To Know

Covered material
A specific type of product or packaging defined by the law that must follow these new rules to be called recyclable.
Producer responsibility organization
An approved group that manages recycling programs and grants permission for producers to claim their items are recyclable before January 1, 2027.
Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act
The state law whose requirements must be met by producers between January 1, 2027, and January 1, 2032 to claim their items are recyclable.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The text does not list the specific types of materials included under 'covered material.'
  • The exact details of how a producer gets approved by an organization are not described.
  • No effective date is listed in the provided source, so it is unclear when these rules officially begin.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Assembly - Died - Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Environmental advertising: recyclability.