BILL NUMBER: S420
SPONSOR: LIU
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to false
claims about recyclability and plastic container labelling
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to ensure that plastic packaging is labeled
correctly.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 states the legislative findings and declaration.
Section 2 amends the environmental conservation law to prevent the sale
or distribution of products or packaging with deceptive or misleading
claims about its recyclability. In particular, the use of the chasing
arrows symbol is considered deceptive and misleading if used on non-re-
cyclable products or packaging.
Section 3 provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Many U.S. consumer companies and retailers sell plastic products that
cannot be readily recycled but still label those products as recyclable.
As a result, consumers who make purchases with sustainability in mind
attempt to recycle these products only to have them end up in a land-
fill. This legislation would help ensure that products labeled as
recyclable, in fact, meet those criteria.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
5/28/24 AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
1/11/23 REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
2022 REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None to the State.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it has become law.