CHAPTER
5.1. Retail Plastics Recycling Program
42250.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:(a) “Manufacturer” means the producer of a plastic carryout bag sold to a store.
(b) “Operator” means a person in control of, or having daily responsibility for, the daily operation of a store, which may include, but is not limited to, the owner of the store.
(c) “Plastic carryout bag” means a plastic carryout bag provided by a store to a customer at the point of sale.
(d) “Plastic packaging” means a plastic material used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery, or
presentation of goods by the manufacturer or retailer for the user or consumer. Plastic packaging includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Sales packaging or primary packaging intended to constitute a sales unit to the consumer at point of purchase and most closely contains the product.
(2) Grouped packaging or secondary packaging intended to brand or display the product.
(3) Transport packaging or tertiary packaging intended to protect the product during transport.
(e) “Plastic shipping envelope” means a plastic material used for the delivery or mailing of smaller goods. Plastic shipping envelopes include, but are not limited to, plastic mailers, lightweight plastic mailers, padded plastic mailers, poly mailers, poly bubble mailers, and plastic shipping mailers.
(f) “Reusable
bag” means either of the following:
(1) A bag made of cloth or other machine washable fabric that has handles.
(2) A durable plastic bag with handles that is at least 2.25 mils thick and is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuse.
(g) “Store” means a retail establishment that provides plastic carryout bags to its customers as a result of the sale of a product and that meets either of the following requirements:
(1) Meet the definition of a “supermarket” as found in Section 14526.5.
(2) Has over 10,000 square feet of retail space that generates sales or use tax pursuant to the Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law (Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 7200) of
Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code) and has a pharmacy licensed pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code.
42251.
(a) The operator of a store shall establish an at-store recycling program pursuant to this chapter that provides an opportunity for a customer of the store to return to the store clean plastic carryout bags and clean durable plastic bags, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 42250.(b) A retail establishment that does not meet the definition of a store, as specified in Section 42250, and that provides plastic carryout bags to customers at the point of sale may also adopt an at-store recycling program, as specified in this chapter.
42252.
An at-store recycling program provided by the operator of a store shall include all of the following:(a) A plastic carryout bag provided by the store shall have printed or displayed on the bag, in a manner visible to a consumer, the words “PLEASE RETURN TO A PARTICIPATING STORE FOR RECYCLING.”
(b) A collection bin for plastic carryout bags and durable plastic bags, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 42250, shall be placed at each store and shall be visible, easily accessible to the consumer, and clearly marked that the collection bin is available for the purpose of collecting and recycling plastic carryout bags and durable plastic bags.
(c) All plastic bags collected by the store shall be collected, transported, and recycled in a manner that does not conflict with the local jurisdiction’s source reduction and recycling element, pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 41000) and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 41300) of Part 2.
(d) The store shall maintain records describing the collection, transport, and recycling of plastic bags collected for a minimum of three years and shall make the records available to the department or the local jurisdiction, upon request, to demonstrate compliance with this chapter.
(e) The operator of the store shall make reusable bags available to customers within the store, which may be purchased and used in lieu of using a plastic carryout bag or paper bag. This subdivision is not applicable to a retail
establishment specified pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 42251.
42253.
The manufacturer of a plastic carryout bag shall develop educational materials to encourage the reducing, reusing, and recycling of plastic bags and shall make those materials available to stores required to comply with this chapter.42254.
(a) (1) An online retailer that provides lockers for the secure pickup of purchased products at a store shall provide a collection bin at the store near the lockers that is visible, easily accessible to the consumer, and clearly marked as available for the purpose of collecting and recycling plastic packaging and plastic shipping envelopes. A collection bin provided pursuant to this subdivision shall be maintained by the online retailer.(2) An online retailer that has a physical retail establishment in this state with in-person sales shall have an at-store recycling program that provides an opportunity for a customer of the retailer to return at the retail establishment plastic packaging and plastic shipping envelopes of products purchased from the retailer, at no cost to the consumer.
(3) An online retailer that delivers products to customers in this state shall have an at-delivery recycling program that provides for the pickup at the time of delivery of plastic packaging and plastic shipping envelopes of products previously purchased from the retailer, at no cost to the customer.
(b) All plastic packaging and plastic shipping envelopes collected by the online retailer, or its agent, pursuant to this section shall be collected, transported, and recycled in a manner that does not conflict with the local jurisdiction’s source reduction and recycling element pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 41000) and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 41300) of Part 2.
(c) An online retailer shall maintain records describing the collection, transport, and recycling of plastic packaging and plastic shipping envelopes pursuant to this section for a minimum of three years and shall make the records available to the
department or the local jurisdiction, upon request, to demonstrate compliance with this section.
(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2023.
42255.
(a) This chapter does not prohibit the adoption, implementation, or enforcement of any local ordinance, resolution, regulation, or rule governing curbside or drop off recycling programs operated by, or pursuant to a contract with, a city, county, or other public agency, including any action relating to fees for these programs.(b) This chapter does not affect any contract, franchise, permit, license, or other arrangement regarding the collection or recycling of solid waste or household hazardous waste.
42256.
(a) A city, county, or the state may impose civil liability in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500) for the first violation of this chapter, one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the second violation, and two thousand dollars ($2,000) for the third and subsequent violation.(b) Any civil penalties collected pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be paid to the office of the city attorney, city prosecutor, district attorney, or Attorney General, whichever office brought the action. The penalties collected pursuant to this section by the Attorney General may be expended by the Attorney General, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to enforce this chapter.
42257.
This chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2030, deletes or extends that date.