California Bill Would Strip “Compostable” Label from Plastic Products
California lawmakers are weighing legislation targeting plastics in organic waste streams, characterizing plastic as a contaminant in the composting process.
Beginning January 1, 2027, Assembly Bill 1812 would prohibit the sale of products labeled with the terms “compostable” or “home compostable” that are made wholly or partially of plastic. It would also update the requirements for those representations by eliminating references to ASTM standards for plastic compostability, instead limiting the labels to products that are “OK compost HOME” certified or meet a different standard adopted by CalRecycle.
Fiber products that are demonstrated to not incorporate any plastics or polymers would not be required to meet those requirements, unless CalRecycle adopts or approves a compostability standard specifically for fiber products.
Under existing California law, products making compostability claims must already satisfy all of the following conditions:
- Be an allowable organic input under the USDA National Organic Program
- Contain no more than 100 ppm of total organic fluorine
- Be labeled in a way that distinguishes them from non-compostable products upon reasonable consumer inspection and supports efficient processing at solid waste facilities
- Be designed to be associated with the recovery of desirable organic waste
AB 1812 was introduced February 10, 2026, and amended March 23. On April 13, the bill passed the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and was re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
