On June 25, 2026, Lollicup USA, a manufacturer of single-use disposable products for the restaurant and food services industries, filed in federal district court a putative class action lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act, SB 582 (the Act or RMA). Like several other state laws, the RMA establishes extended
Recycling
California Packaging EPR Program Faces Legal Challenges

On June 22, 2026, a coalition of 17 states led by Nebraska’s attorney general (AG) plus the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), filed a federal lawsuit in the Eastern District of California, challenging the constitutionality of SB 54 (or the Act), California’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) law for packaging. Defendants include the California Department of…
Written Opinion on SB 343 Constitutional Challenge Expected After Hearing

On June 3, 2026, a federal district court in California held a hearing on a motion for a preliminary injunction in a legal challenge filed by 21 organizations contending that California’s SB 343, also known as the Truth in Recycling law, is unconstitutional. At issue in California League of Food Producers v. Bonta (Case No.
Producers Must Register by June 1 Under California’s New EPR Regulations

The registration deadline for businesses covered under California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54) is fast approaching. On May 1, 2026, the final regulations for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program established by the Act became effective; a copy of the final regulations has not yet been posted. Producers now have…
Industry Groups Challenge Constitutionality of California’s “Truth in Labeling” Law


On March 17, 2026, a coalition of 18 food industry groups and trade associations brought suit in California federal court challenging the constitutionality of California’s “Truth in Labeling” law (SB 343). Plaintiffs seek a declaration that SB 343 is unconstitutional and a preliminary injunction to prevent enforcement of the law while the suit…
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…
FTC to Hold Workshop on “Recyclable” Claims

On December 14, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it would be reviewing its Green Guides for the Use of Environmental Claims (Green Guides) to assess the need for updates and changes to the Guides. First published in 1992, the Green Guides address a number of environmental marketing claims, reflecting the FTC’s interpretation…
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…
Two Senate Recycling Bills Pass Unanimously

Two recent Senate bills show that Congress is working to improve the nation’s patchwork of recycling laws. On July 28, 2022, the Senate voted unanimously to pass The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2022 (RIAA) and The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act (RCAA). The first of these directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)…
Keurig Agrees to Pay $10 Million to Settle Class Action Over Charges of Misleading Recyclable Claims


On February 24, 2022, Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (Keurig) agreed to pay $10 million to settle a long-running class action that alleged the coffee company deceptively advertised its K-Cups pods’ recyclability by misleadingly labeling and marketing them as “recyclable” when the pods were in fact not accepted for recycling in many areas. The settlement follows…