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Circular Action Alliance (CAA), the producer responsibility organization (PRO) implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR) for paper and packaging in California, has opened an updated registration portal for all producers obligated under California’s packaging EPR law, Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, or Senate Bill 54.
CAA encourages obligated producers to complete their registration prior to Sept. 5.
RELATED: CAA enters ‘accelerated phase’ of SB 54 implementation
Producers selling, distributing or shipping single-use packaging into California likely are obligated under the law, CAA says. Registration is required for all producers even if they previously registered with CAA. In addition to registration, CAA also plans to open a producer supply reporting period, with a reporting deadline of Nov. 15.
“In 2025, a key priority in California is building the registration and reporting processes that producers need to stay on track with upcoming EPR obligations,” says Geoffrey Inch, senior vice president of producer services with Washington-based CAA. “We’re here to support producers every step of the way—helping companies complete their registration and confidently report 2023 baseline data this year. By choosing ‘PRO Reporting’ during registration, producers can also simplify their obligations in California.”
As part of California registration, producers must choose between PRO Reporting—where CAA handles CalRecycle registration, data submission and compliance—or Self-Reporting, where the producer registers and reports directly to both CalRecycle and CAA. CAA recommends selecting the first option.
“Producer registration and reporting data are critical to shaping California’s packaging EPR program plan, establishing the source reduction baseline, and guiding implementation,” Inch adds. “Registering and reporting by Nov. 15 allows CAA to better tailor the program to meet producer needs.”
Registered producers in need of help can visit the “Help & Support” tab in the Producer Portal or contact the CAA team at producer.support@circularaction.org.
S.B. 54 is designed to cut single-use packaging and plastic foodware waste. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law in 2022, and a host of industry and environmental groups, regulators and lawmakers have worked ever since to establish how it will be implemented.
However, earlier this year, Newsom directed CalRecycle to restart the regulatory process to ensure fair implementation. Revised draft regulations were released in May, garnering mixed reactions from stakeholders, lawmakers and industry groups.
“While it appears they were able to improve aspects that help producers more efficiently begin implementing the program, we have concerns with several provisions that appear to conflict with law,” California Sen. Ben Allen, lead author of S.B. 54, says in a statement published May 19. “Notably, it appears the proposed draft regulations exempt certain products that are clearly in the program’s scope.”
An updated economic assessment released by CalRecycle in July shows that the EPR law could deliver $32 billion in net benefits and slash plastic waste by 1.9 billion pounds.