(1) Existing law prohibits a person from selling a plastic bag that is labeled as “compostable,” “biodegradable,” “degradable,” or as otherwise specified unless, at the time of sale, the bag meets a current American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard specification for the term used on the label.
This bill would, instead, prohibit the sale of a plastic bag that is labeled as “compostable” or “marine degradable,” unless that bag meets the ASTM Standard Specification for Compostable Plastics D6400, the ASTM Standard Specification for Non-Floating Biodegradable Plastics in the Marine Environment D7081, or a standard adopted by the California Integrated Waste Management Board, as specified. The bill also would prohibit the sale of a plastic bag that is labeled as “biodegradable,” “degradable,” “decomposable,” or as otherwise specified.
(2) Existing law prohibits a person from selling a plastic food or beverage container that is labeled as “biodegradable,” “compostable,” “degradable,” or as otherwise specified, unless, at the time of sale, the container meets the ASTM Standard Specification for Compostable Plastics D6400-04.
This bill would, instead, prohibit the sale of a food or beverage container, as defined, that is labeled as “compostable” or “marine degradable,” unless that container meets a specified ASTM standard specification or a standard adopted by the California Integrated Waste Management Board, as specified. The bill also would prohibit the sale of a food or beverage container that is labeled as “biodegradable,” “degradable,” “decomposable,” or as otherwise specified.
(3) This bill, for purposes of the provisions relating to labeling plastic bags and food and beverage containers, would require the board to
review revisions of specified ASTM standard specifications and would authorize the board, in some cases, to adopt those standards. The bill would authorize the board to review new ASTM standard specifications and other specified standards, and in certain circumstances, to make a recommendation to the Legislature.