New packaging regulations in California will change the produce industry

Kevin Kelly, CEO of Emerald Packing, says that recycling systems in California ? and across the U.S. ? aren't currently set up to?handle flexible plastic bags such as salad mix and other vegetables are packed in.? An article by Tom Karst, The Packer, deals about. California lawmakers appear poised to pass legislation that could dramatically alter the way produce is packed in the state within 10 years. The California Circular Economy and Pollution Reduction Act ? Senate Bill 54 and companion legislation Assembly Bill 1080 ? would require massive investment in California?s recycling infrastructure and mandate changes to the way produce is packed, said Kevin Kelly, CEO of Emerald Packing, Union City, Calif. Kelly said he has been involved in packaging issues for 25 years in California, beginning with the first bans of grocery carry-out sacks. The legislation now being considered for passage in California would by 2030 largely ban all single-use packaging that isn?t recycled. The distinction is ?recycled,? not ?recyclable,? Kelly said. The bill would require regulations to ?achieve and maintain? by Jan. 1, 2030, a 75% reduction statewide of the waste generated from single-use packaging and priority single-use products offered for sale, sold, distributed, or imported in or into the state through source reduction, recycling, or composting. ?This hits the produce industry right in the jaw because of course you have all the field-pack packaging, the romaine bags, the iceberg lettuce bags, cauliflower bags, and then you have all the processed produce packaging, the salads, baby carrot, and what not,? Kelly said.? Some of those produce packaging materials ? such as a baby carrot bag ? are feasible to recycle because they are ?straight up? polyethylene single material that can go through a recycling process. On the other hand, plastic used in salad bags to extend shelf life cannot be recycled, because the plastic is made of two materials ? typically polyethylene and polypropylene ? combined with adhesive. Based on the way the law is written, all salad packing as it exists now would be gone because it could not be recycled, Kelly said. ?Frankly the produce industry has not woken up to the implications of this law,? he said.? The legislation came within a few votes of passing last year and appears to have the necessary support in an election year to become law, he said. While some farm groups are lobbying for changes in the legislation to account for provisions for field packing, it is unclear if those changes will be incorporated to the law, Kelly said.Source and full articleThe Packer, Tom Karst -?California packaging legislation will change industry