When it comes to regulations, California is often known to lead the way.
So members of the Association of Plastic Recyclers are expecting an important meeting when they gather next week in the state's capitol, Sacramento.
The trade group is slated to hear from environmental regulators from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery — also known as CalRecycle — during APR's June 6-8 gathering.
"APR has worked closely with CalRecycle for many years now," APR Executive Director Steve Alexander said in a statement. "We feel these presentations represent a unique opportunity for our industry to hear directly from the regulatory community on issues which could impact the direction of plastics recycling for years to come. As a bellwether state, California sets the tone for the entire country."
APR members are scheduled to hear from three departments within CalRecycle, and topics will include mandatory recycled content, degradable additives, product bans, the Plastic Market Development Program and the state's container deposit program. They also will hear about the state's rigid plastic container packaging law.
"Potential future regulatory actions such as extended producer responsibility, product bans, changes in the resin identification code and, and others will be addressed," APR said.
"As we have seen in the past, regulations passed in California are often duplicated in other states," said J. Scott Saunders, general manager of KW Plastics Recycling and APR's chairman, in a statement. "In 2013, APR worked to pass Degradable Plastic Labeling laws in North Carolina and Alabama shortly after the law was passed in California. Being informed of the California regulatory climate is essential to APR members."
More information about the upcoming meeting and its agenda is available at www.plasticsrecycling.org.
