AB 1812 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Solid waste: compostable products.

Summary

Existing law prohibits a person from selling or offering for sale a product, as defined, that is labeled with the term "compostable" or "home compostable" unless, among others, the product meets a specified ASTM standard specification, has OK compost HOME certification, and meets a standard adopted by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. Existing law requires the department to review revisions to the ASTM standard specification, as provided. Existing law authorizes the department to adopt a standard different from an ASTM standard if adopted or developed by a standard-setting organization recognized by the department, the standard adds qualifications to an ASTM standard specification, and the standard is more stringent than an ASTM standard specification, as provided. Existing law exempts a fiber product that is demonstrated to not incorporate any plastics or polymers from complying with any of these ASTM standards. This bill would instead prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale a product that is labeled with the term "compostable" or "home compostable" unless the product has OK compost HOME certification or meets a standard adopted by the department. The bill would repeal the requirement for the department to review revisions to the ASTM standard specification. The bill would instead authorize the department to adopt an existing standard different from an ASTM standard specification if the standard is adopted or developed by a standard-setting organization recognized by the department. This bill would exempt a fiber product that is demonstrated to not incorporate any plastics or polymers from requirements for labeling compostable products, as specified, unless the department adopts a standard for compostable fiber products. This bill, on and after June 30, 2027, would prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale a product in this state that is labeled with the term "compostable" or "home compostable" that is made wholly or partially of plastic, as defined. This bill would exempt from prohibition a food service establishment's use of plastic single-use food service ware that is accepted by a recycling collector that services the jurisdiction in which the food service establishment operates, as specified. The bill would provide that this exemption does not preempt a local requirement for food service establishments to use compostable or reusable service ware or otherwise limit the authority of a local government to regulate service ware outside of the exemption, as specified. Existing law requires a compostable bag that meets an ASTM standard specification described above to comply with certain labeling requirements. This bill would repeal those labeling requirements.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Aug 2026

Assembly Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 10, 2026 Last action Aug 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

03/23/26 - Amended Assembly → 07/02/26 - Amended Senate · 7 edits · Jul 2, 2026

MODERATE

The Senate amendment to AB 1812 makes several substantive changes to California's compostable product labeling law. Most significantly, it adds a new exemption allowing food service establishments to use plastic single-use food service ware if that material is accepted by the local recycling collector, while preserving local authority to require compostable or reusable alternatives. The bill also delays the ban on plastic products labeled 'compostable' or 'home compostable' from January 1, 2027 to June 30, 2027, simplifies the compliance pathway by removing the direct ASTM standard requirement in favor of OK compost HOME certification or a department-adopted standard, and changes the department's obligation to adopt labeling regulations from mandatory to discretionary.

ELIGIBILITY

New exemption (Section 42357(i)) allows food service establishments to use plastic single-use food service ware that is accepted by a recycling collector serving their jurisdiction. The exemption does not preempt local ordinances requiring compostable or reusable service ware and does not limit local authority to regulate service ware beyond the exemption.

TIMELINE

The effective date for prohibiting sale of products labeled 'compostable' or 'home compostable' that are made wholly or partially of plastic was delayed from January 1, 2027 to June 30, 2027 (Section 42357(b)).

REQUIREMENT

Section 42357(a)(1) was simplified: products labeled 'compostable' or 'home compostable' now need only have OK compost HOME certification or meet a standard adopted by the department under Section 42356.2, rather than also needing to meet the applicable ASTM standard specification directly.

Section 42356.2 was simplified from three conditions (recognized organization, adds qualifications to an ASTM standard, and is more stringent) to a single condition: the standard must be adopted or developed by a standard-setting organization recognized by the department. The 'adds qualifications' and 'more stringent' requirements were removed.

ENFORCEMENT

Section 42357(h)(2) changed from requiring the department to adopt regulations for determining labeling compliance ('shall adopt') to making it discretionary ('may adopt').

DEFINITION

New subparagraph (B) in Section 42357(a)(3) clarifies that 'polymer' does not include natural rubber or naturally occurring polymers, including proteins and starches, for purposes of the fiber product exemption.

TECHNICAL

Section 42370.2(e)(2) updated cross-reference from 'subparagraph (A) or (C)' to 'subparagraph (B)' to reflect renumbering of ASTM standard specification definitions after repeal of Section 42356.1.

02/10/26 - Introduced → 03/23/26 - Amended Assembly · 11 edits · Mar 23, 2026

MAJOR

AB 1812 was substantially expanded from a single-section amendment to a multi-section overhaul of California's compostable product labeling law. The amended version adds a new legislative findings section, introduces a ban on plastic-based products labeled 'compostable' or 'home compostable' effective January 1, 2027, exempts fiber products without plastics from most requirements, repeals specific bag labeling rules and the ASTM review process, and broadens CalRecycle's authority to adopt alternative standards. The changes shift the regulatory framework from a rigid ASTM-standard-based system toward a more flexible approach that allows department-adopted standards while adding a hard plastic ban.

SCOPE

New Section 42355.3 adds legislative findings declaring California's leadership in composting, the importance of organic recyclers to agriculture, and concerns about contaminants in the organic waste stream increasing costs for ratepayers.

Section 42356.2 is restructured to specify three conditions for CalRecycle adopting a non-ASTM standard: it must be from a recognized standard-setting organization, add qualifications to an ASTM standard, and be more stringent than the ASTM standard it qualifies. Also adds authority to adopt a standard for compostable fiber products.

REQUIREMENT

New subdivision (b) of Section 42357 prohibits selling or offering for sale any product labeled 'compostable' or 'home compostable' that is made wholly or partially of plastic, effective January 1, 2027. This is a new outright ban on plastic-based compostable-labeled products.

Section 42357(a)(1) now adds 'or the product meets a standard adopted by the department pursuant to Section 42356.2' as an additional compliance path alongside ASTM standards and OK compost HOME certification, giving CalRecycle more flexibility in setting requirements.

Section 42356.1 is repealed, which had required CalRecycle to review revisions to ASTM standard specifications and provided a process for adopting or rejecting updated standards. This removes the structured review mechanism for ASTM updates.

Section 42357.5 is repealed, which contained specific labeling requirements for compostable plastic bags including green color mandates, certification logo display, minimum lettering size, and prohibition of recycling symbols on compostable bags.

ELIGIBILITY

New paragraph (3) of Section 42357(a) exempts fiber products demonstrated to not incorporate any plastics or polymers (including through lamination, extrusion, or mixing) from the section's requirements, unless CalRecycle adopts a standard specifically for compostable fiber products.

ENFORCEMENT

Section 42357(h)(2) changes 'The department may adopt regulations' to 'The department shall adopt regulations' for determining whether products comply with labeling requirements (subparagraph D), making rulemaking mandatory rather than discretionary.

TECHNICAL

Section 42358.5 is repealed, which set the operative date of the chapter as January 1, 2013.

Section 42281.2 (precheckout bags) is modified so that compostable bags must now comply with Section 42357.5 standards AND be eligible to be labeled 'compostable' or 'home compostable' under Section 42357, plus have a minimum 15-inch mouth width.

Section 42370.2 (food service packaging) updates cross-references from 'subparagraph (A) or (C)' to 'subparagraph (B)' and removes the reference to Section 42356.1, reflecting the repeal of that section.

Floor votes · Assembly May 26, 2026

How they voted

63–1

Passed · 15 other

Total votes 79

May 26, 2026

D Democratic59

56 Yea 3

94% Yea

R Republican20

7 Yea 1 Nay 12

35% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Aug 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

In committee: Held under submission.

upper

Aug 3, 2026

Committee

In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

upper

Jul 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

upper

Jul 2, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (July 1).

upper

Jun 3, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on E.Q.

upper

May 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 64. Noes 1.)

lower

May 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 1.) (May 14).

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Committee

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (April 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor