Pub. Resources Code, § 42357.5 · Chapter 5.7. Products
Pub. Resources Code, § 42357.5
Text — As published in the Legislative Counsel's database, tables dated October 18, 2026 (pubinfo_2025.zip)
(a) A manufacturer of a compostable plastic bag meeting an ASTM standard specification specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 42356 or Section 42356.1 shall ensure that the compostable plastic bag is readily and easily identifiable from other plastic bags in a manner that is consistent with the Federal Trade Commission Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (Part 260 (commencing with Section 260.1) of Subchapter B of Chapter I of Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations).
(b) For purposes of this section, “readily and easily identifiable” means labeling that meets both of the following requirements:
(1) Labeled with a certification logo indicating the bag meets the ASTM D6400 standard specification if the bag has been certified as meeting that standard by a recognized third-party independent verification.
(2) Labeled in accordance with one of the following:
(A) The bag is made of a uniform color of green and labeled with the word “compostable” on one side of the bag, and the label shall be at least one inch in height.
(B) Labeled with the word “compostable” on both sides of the bag and the label shall be one of the following:
(i) Green color lettering at least one inch in height.
(ii) Within a contrasting green color band of at least one inch in height on both sides of the bag with color contrasting lettering of at least one-half inch in height.
(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), if the bag is smaller than 14 inches by 14 inches, the lettering and stripe shall be in proportion to the size of the bag.
(d) A compostable plastic bag sold or distributed in the state shall not display a chasing arrow resin identification code or recycling type of symbol in any form.
(e) A manufacturer is required to comply with this section only to the extent that the labeling requirements of subdivisions (b), (c), and (d) do not conflict with the Federal Trade Commission Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (Part 260 (commencing with Section 260.1) of Subchapter B of Chapter I of Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations).
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Repealed (in Sec. 2) and added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 594, Sec. 1. (SB 567) Effective January 1, 2012. Section operative January 1, 2013, pursuant to Section 42358.5.
Source of truth
- Edition
- As published in the Legislative Counsel's database, tables dated October 18, 2026 (pubinfo_2025.zip)
- Official file
- https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PRC§ionNum=42357.5.
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- compose_ca.py 2026-10-22: the Legislative Counsel's CAML content files read by a tokenizer (caml_readers.reader_a); an independent xml.etree reading (caml_readers.reader_b) agrees on every section
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