AB 2245: Lubricants waste: packaging: producer responsibility.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

(1)Under existing law, as part of the hazardous waste control laws, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) generally regulates the management and handling of hazardous waste and hazardous materials. Existing law authorizes a public agency, as defined, to operate a household hazardous waste collection facility under permit from DTSC.

The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, which is administered by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), requires a city and a county to prepare and submit to CalRecycle a countywide integrated waste management plan. The act requires the plan to include a household hazardous waste element that identifies a program in each city and county for the safe collection, recycling, treatment, and disposal of hazardous wastes that are generated by households.

The California Oil Recycling Enhancement Act, administered by CalRecycle, establishes a used oil recycling program to promote and develop alternatives to illegal disposal of used oil. The act imposes a charge for every gallon of lubricating oil sold or transferred in the state, or imported into the state for use in the state, as specified.

This bill would create a producer responsibility program for lubricants waste that is not covered by the act, and packaging associated with lubricant products, and would require a producer responsibility organization (PRO) to provide a convenient collection and management system for covered products at no cost to residents. The bill would create 2 categories of covered product, covered liquid product and covered packaging product. The bill would define “covered liquid product” to mean a petroleum-based automotive product and other related products, as specified. The bill would define “covered packaging product” to mean primary packaging and containers designed and intended to hold a covered liquid product and other similar packaging, as specified. The bill would require a producer of a covered product to register with the PRO, which would be required to develop and implement a producer responsibility plan for the collection and the safe and proper management of covered products. The bill would require CalRecycle, in coordination with DTSC, to adopt regulations to implement the program with an effective date no earlier than January 1, 2029.

This bill would require the PRO, within 12 months of the effective date of the regulations, to submit a product responsibility plan to CalRecycle. The bill would require the plan to include specified elements, including a funding mechanism that provides sufficient funding to carry out the plan. The bill would require, within 6 months of receipt of the plan, CalRecycle, in collaboration with DTSC, to approve, approve in part, or disapprove the plan, as specified. The bill would require CalRecycle to notify the PRO of its decision. If CalRecycle does not approve the plan in full, then the bill would require CalRecycle to specify the reasons for disapproval or identify the portions of the partially approved plan that do not comply with the program, as applicable. The bill would require the PRO to submit a revised plan if its plan is not fully approved.

This bill would require the PRO to implement its plan within 90 days of approval. The bill would require the plan to be fully funded in a manner that equitably distributes the plan’s costs among participant producers, as specified. The bill would require the plan to describe how the producer responsibility organization will consult with and mutually agree upon terms and amounts to reimburse local jurisdictions for the proportional costs associated with collecting and managing covered products pursuant to these provisions. The bill would also require the plan to include a description of how the producer responsibility organization will contract with haulers to transport covered products from the collection facilities to recycling facilities or disposal, and how the producer responsibility organization will contract with recyclers.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. May 14, 2026In committee: Held under submission.
2. May 6, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
3. April 23, 2026Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. April 22, 2026Read second time and amended.
5. April 21, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 1.) (April 20).
6. April 15, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
7. April 13, 2026(Pending re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES.)
8. April 13, 2026Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 4581.)
9. April 8, 2026Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.
10. April 7, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. Read second time and amended.
11. March 24, 2026Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.
12. March 23, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. Read second time and amended.