It’s the Law…and That’s a Good Thing for the Environment
POSTED ON October 31st, 2026 BY Nancy Roberts
People change their behavior for all kinds of reasons: to fit in with their neighbors, to feel good about themselves, to save money or time, and…because it’s the law! While we would hope that gentle persuasion and the presentation of facts help people do the right thing around waste and recycling, sometimes you just need a law. The legislative session that ended on August 31, 2026 included a slew of laws aimed at clarifying recycling claims, increasing post-consumer content requirements and reducing litter. Some passed, some did not, and some were vetoed; some laws already enacted are facing challenges from opponents. Here are just some examples;
Take Vapes (Please!)
Vape pens are not just detrimental to health; vape disposal, especially single-use vapes, is a huge issue of both safety (the batteries are fire hazards) and waste, since they contain valuable metals that could be recovered and yet are so frequently littered. Governor Newsom signed AB 762 in September, which bans the sale of disposable nicotine vapes in 2027. Newsom also signed AB 2667, which aims to help authorities find better, safer ways to dispose of confiscated vapes.
Prevent Pollution with Planning
Some laws aim to prevent issues before they occur. Governor Newsom signed AB 40, which requires developers of large coal facilities, such as the one that was proposed in West Oakland, to disclose the projects’ impacts and create mitigation measures before the project can be approved.
Recycling Convenience and Recycled Content Claims
Updates to the state’s Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act (SB 633 and 955) were signed into law. The bills aim to increase convenience and capacity for the state’s beverage recycling program.
However, the Protecting Consumers Against Greenwashing Act, which was designed to clarify and inform consumers about specific recycled-content claim for containers, was vetoed following opposition from the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment (Ameripen). The Governor agreed that it placed an undue burden on manufacturers.
If at First a Law Doesn’t Succeed…
For sure, lawmakers don’t always get it right the first time. For example, there have been five laws passed since 2010 just for carpet recycling, as newer laws aim to clarify and improve the original effort. At the same time, California’s carpet recycling rate – 37% of discards and 86% of carpet collected – is unmatched anywhere, thanks in part to the legal requirements that created a recycling ecosystem of consumers, retailers, installers, collectors, processors and manufacturers, managed by Carpet America Recovery Effort, that is still growing and learning.
California Rules!
Thanks to its size and influence, California often leads the nation in passing laws that protect the environment and aim to reduce waste. While they don’t all work the first time, the ongoing work with and by legislators is key to solving the challenge of waste and pollution reduction.
Stay abreast of pending and current recycling laws with publications like Recycling Today and Waste Dive.