What to know about SB 343
California’s Senate Bill 343 (SB 343) regulates how packaging can be labeled as “recyclable.” The law is designed to increase recycling rates and reduce greenwashing by ensuring that recycling symbols and claims appropriately reflect what can be collected and processed by recycling systems.
The “chasing arrows” symbol is widely recognized by consumers as being accepted for recycling. However, it often appears on items such as plastic film or multi-layer packaging that are not acceptable in curbside recycling programs. This can create confusion for consumers and may lead to contamination issues.
Why is this important?
According to SB 343, products manufactured after October 4, 2026 and sold in California cannot display the chasing arrows symbol or any recycling-related language unless the material meets specific criteria. To qualify, the packaging material must be accepted for collection by recycling programs that serve at least 60% of California’s population, and must get recycled (sorted and reprocessed into feedstock used in the manufacturing of new packaging products). The access percentage is in SB343 Final Findings Report and will be reviewed and updated every five years by CalRecycle. Plastic film, for example, reports only a ~28% recycling accessibility, meaning it does not meet the 60% threshold and cannot display recycling symbols. This is in contrast to paper and cardboard, which report that ~99% of the population have collection access.
What does this mean?
This ultimately means that brands and manufacturers are responsible for reviewing their packaging designs, labels, and materials, reference the SB343 Waste Characterization Study as part of the Final Findings Report to understand if the material qualifies for recycling, and make responsible labeling decisions to ensure compliance. Members of How2Recycle should also refer to the H2R labeling guide.
Shorr can help you understand your sustainable and compliant packaging designs and decisions every step of the way!