California Environmental Regulations Summary

January 29, 2025

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Read about several recent environmental laws as well as new laws going into effect in 2025 and beyond.

Legislation at all levels of government affects our daily lives and influences how our city will function in the future. California is a leader in environmental legislation, but staying up to date on new laws can be daunting and confusing. Below is a summary of several recent environmental laws as well as new laws going into effect in 2025 and beyond.

SB 1053

Existing law (SB 270) prohibits grocery and convenience stores from providing single-use plastic bags to customers (with some exceptions). Signed into law in September 2024, SB 1503 replaces SB 270 and tightens plastic bag restrictions. Beginning January 1, 2026, grocery stores, retail outlets, convenience shops, and most other retailers will be prohibited from providing single-use plastic “carryout bags” at point of sale. The law repeals the exemption for thicker plastic bags previously considered reusable and allowed under SB 270. Stores will still be able to provide recycled paper bags (for a $.10 cent fee), reusable bags made of approved materials like cloth, or approved compostable bags—but not conventional plastic bags. Online orders delivered to your home or picked up curbside will be subject to the same rules. The bill also provides updated and specific definitions for “carryout bag,” “recycled paper bag,” “point of sale,” and other relevant terms. For example, a recycled paper bag will be required to be made from a minimum of 50% post-consumer recycled materials. The law aims to reduce plastic pollution and encourage people to use reusable bags.

AB 660

Confused by expiration dates on packaged foods? Phrases like “sell by,” “expires on,” and “enjoy by” can leave consumers uncertain about when foods truly become unsafe to eat and send tons of edible food to landfills each year prematurely.

Food waste is the most common material landfilled in California. When it decomposes, it creates methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.  AB 660 aims to reduce food waste by requiring food manufacturers to use uniform terminology when labeling their products.

Instead of ambiguous phrases like “enjoy by”, the bill will require specific terms for "quality" dates, such as “BEST if used by” or “BEST if Used or Frozen by”, andfor "safety" dates such as “USE by” or “USE or Freeze by”. But, it bans the use of confusing consumer-facing "Sell-By" dates. Under this law, “Can Codes” are still permitted. Can Codes consist of a series of letters and/or numbers that identify the date and time the product was canned or packaged. These codes are not meant for consumer interpretation; instead, theyallow retailers to track their product in interstate commerce. These codes also enable manufacturers to rotate their stock and locate their products in the event of a recall.

The bill goes into effect July 1, 2026, but it includes a sell-through period during which manufacturers and retailers can “sell through” their remaining products that were manufactured before July 1, 2026, that may not be labeled in accordance with the new requirements.


SB 707

Also known as the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, SB 707 is the first extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework for clothing and textiles in the U.S. that aims to reduce textile waste and minimize the environmental impact of fast fashion. The law requires textile producers to take responsibility for their products from start to finish, including repair, recycling, and reuse. Producers must join a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) to handle collection, sorting, and recycling. The bill requires the PRO to develop a complete plan for the collection, transportation, repair, sorting, and recycling, and the safe and proper management of apparel and textile articles in the state. The law includes textiles and apparel such as men's and women's clothing, undergarments, costumes, as well as fabric window coverings, curtains, blankets, towels, napkins, bedding, linens, pillows, and tablecloths. Non-compliant textile producers will be subject to civil penalties. The goal of SB 707 is to reduce the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills and support the development of upcycling and recycling. The bill requires the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to adopt regulations to implement the program by July 1, 2028.

SB 1143

SB 1143 builds on the State’s existing law (AB 1343) that established a paint recovery and stewardship program to properly manage residential and commercial paint at the end of its life. Existing law prohibits a manufacturer or retailer from selling architectural paint (the paint typically available at paint or home improvement stores) in the state unless (1) there is a recovery program in place and (2) the manufacturer is in compliance with the program. The paint recovery program has been managed through a national non-profit organization called PaintCare. California’s new SB 1143 expands the range of products managed by the PaintCare program in the state to include additional paint products and coatings such as aerosol paints, nonindustrial coatings, and other coating products.

SB 1420

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a public agency to provide specific documentation before it proceeds with certain projects. Existing law authorizes the Governor to certify energy infrastructure projects for streamlining benefits related to CEQA. The law defines an “energy infrastructure project” as those that utilize eligible renewable energy resources under the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program, excluding those that use biomass fuels. Existing law expressly excludes any project using hydrogen as a fuel.

Signed into law by Governor Newsom in September 2024, SB 1420 would expand the types of projects to be certified as an “energy infrastructure project” by the Energy Commission to include hydrogen production facilities and associated onsite storage and processing facilities that do not derive hydrogen from a fossil fuel feedstock. This law allows qualified hydrogen infrastructure projects to enjoy the same streamlined CEQA process that wind and solar projects utilize.


SB 1383

SB 1383 expands on the organics recycling requirements of AB 1826, mandating that jurisdictions provide organics recycling collection services for all residential and commercial locations, including multi-family complexes. The law also requires jurisdictions to conduct outreach, education, monitoring, and enforcement, procure recyclable and recovered products, such as compost and/or renewable fuels, and implement an edible food recovery program. Since SB 1383 was implemented in 2022, nearly 80% of California communities report they have residential organic waste collection in place.

Although SB 1383 is not new for 2025, the City continues to implement aspects of the law, including food recovery. The City of Thousand Oaks has been developing a food recovery program, partnering with Athens Services and an online platform called Careit, to connect food generators, such as restaurants, health facilities, and hotels, with food recovery organizations to ensure safe donations. The Careit platform allows food generators to post available donations and notify recovery organizations directly. If you are a food generator and would like to participate in the program, contact the Sustainability Division at gogreen@toaks.gov or 805-449-7283 for more information.

For more information on the state regulations listed above, visit CalRecycle at https://calrecycle.ca.gov/.