Starting January 1, 2026, retailers of covered battery-embedded (CBE) products in California must charge consumers a CBE Waste Recycling Fee at point of purchase or cover the costs of the fee themselves. Per regulations finalized last week, the fee will be 1.5% (capped at $15) of the retail sales price of a CBE product. Proposed
California
JBS USA Settles NY AG “Net Zero” Challenge as NGO False Ad Litigation Continues and California Climate Reporting Deadlines Loom
On November 3, 2025, the New York Attorney General announced a $1.1 million settlement with the U.S. subsidiary of the world’s largest beef producer, ending the state’s lawsuit accusing the company of misleading the public about its environmental practices and sustainability commitments. The complaint, filed in February 2024 in New York state court, alleged…
California Delays NOP Requirements for Compostable Products
Earlier this month, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) sent a letter to the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) that effectively delays, until June 30, 2027, a key requirement for “compostable” and “home compostable” products set to take effect next year. California’s AB 1201 required that after January 1, 2026, products labeled “compostable”…
California Solicits Input on E-Waste and Battery EPR Programs
This month, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is soliciting public feedback on two rulemakings related to extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs that apply to covered battery-embedded products (along with other types of electronics) and loose batteries. Comments on CalRecycle’s draft regulations to implement SB 1215, which revised the state’s Covered…
California Becomes First State to Impose Extended Producer Responsibility on Textiles
California recently became the first state to adopt an extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles by adopting Senate Bill 707, the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 (the RTRA or Act). Specific requirements will become effective in 2026. EPR is a regulatory approach that shifts the burden of recycling and reuse of products away…
California Issues Notice of Enforcement Discretion for Climate Reports under SB 253
On December 5, 2024, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) published a notice of enforcement discretion under SB 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, which requires U.S. companies that do business in California and that have total annual revenues in excess of $1 billion to report all of their Scope 1, Scope 2, and…
Video Game Developer Settles Alleged Violations of Federal and State Privacy Laws Governing Children’s Data
On June 18, 2024, the California Attorney General (AG) and Los Angeles City Attorney jointly announced that video game developer and publisher Tilting Point Media LLC (Tilting Point) agreed to a $500,000 settlement for violations of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and California Unfair Competition Law (UCL) based…
California’s AB1305: New Carbon Offset Disclosure Requirements
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed into law AB1305, another in the line of bills that reflect California’s efforts to tackle climate change. AB1305 amends California’s Health and Safety Code to require certain disclosures from companies that affect claims such as carbon neutral, net zero, and the like, in reliance on voluntary carbon offsets (VCOs).
CA Court Blocks Enforcement of Controversial Children’s Online Privacy Law
On September 18, 2023, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California granted a preliminary injunction to NetChoice, a tech umbrella group, against California Attorney General Rob Bonta from enforcing the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (CAADCA). The court found the CAADCA, which was slated to take effect on July 1, 2024…
California Begins Formal Rulemaking on Changes to its Recycling and Disposal System
On January 27, 2023, CalRecycle, the California agency that oversees the state’s waste management, recycling, and waste reduction programs, published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding amendments to the Recycling and Disposal Reporting System (RDRS). The proposed regulations are intended to update the state’s RDRS to better comply with various state recycling and disposal laws…