California’s Tough Plastic Law Sparks Frustration Over Red Tape

After years of political battles, rewrites and regulatory infighting, the first phase of California’s landmark plastic pollution law is finally going live June 1.

Almost nobody is happy about it.

Industry groups and compliance lawyers say that despite major rewrites done at their demand, the rules are still opaque and expensive. Recycling and anti-waste advocates counter that regulators weakened the law with exemptions and carve-outs that could undermine its environmental goals.

“It’s a convoluted law,” said Christopher Smith, a lawyer at Saul Ewing who advises companies on compliance. “And there are going to be legal challenges” to it, he added. ...