For the second time, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) will be working to revise its regulations to implement the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54). CalRecycle withdrew its proposed regulations from the Office of Administrative Law's review on January 9, 2026. In March 2025, Governor Newsom rejected an initial draft of the regulations, claiming that the regulations as drafted would result in unnecessary burdens to businesses and added costs to consumers in California. (For information on the most recent draft regulatory text for SB 54 submitted to the Administrative Law Office, see the packaginglaw.com article, California Updates EPR Program for Packaging and Food Service Ware.)

CalRecycle said this most recent withdrawal was necessary to make changes to the regulations to improve clarity and support successful implementation of the law. Once the changes are made, the Department will conduct an additional 15-day comment period. Of significance, CalRecycle said that the statutory deadlines will remain unchanged.