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The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and the 17 states that sued California over its packaging law aimed at reducing plastic waste filed a request last week for a temporary halt to the rollout of the policy.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom signed California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act into law in 2022, with a phased implementation. The law, also known as Senate Bill 54, will overhaul California’s entire plastics and packaging use system, in the food industry and beyond.
The coalition sued California in June, arguing that the law extends into their states and is unconstitutional. The plaintiffs asked a Sacramento federal judge to block the enforcement of SB 54 until the court has ruled on the constitutionality of the law. The group asked that a hearing be set for Jan. 15, 2027.
“California’s own data shows most of the material this law regulates can’t meet the vague ‘recyclability’ standard it demands,” said Eric Hoplin, president and CEO of the wholesaler-distributor organization, in a news release. “We’re asking the court to stop enforcement before businesses and consumers are forced to pay for something California hasn’t shown is achievable.”
CalRecycle, a named defendant in the suit and the agency tasked with administering SB 54, said it does not comment on pending litigation.
California argues the law is necessary to meet its recycling and climate goals and will Californians over $53 billion.
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Packaging makes up 50% of landfill waste volume, according to CalRecycle. With SB 54, the state has three plastic and packaging requirements to hit by 2032: a 25% reduction in single-use plastic, a 65% recycling rate in single-use plastic and a 100% rate of recyclable or compostable single-use packaging.
Producers who fail to comply will be forced to pay fees. Those fees will fund the plastics system .
The California law mimics environmental policies in other states, including Colorado and Oregon. The policies are known as extended producer responsibility programs. California’s program is also being challenged in court by environmentalists who say the law doesn’t go far enough.
The Oregon government was on trial last month for its program after the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors filed suit in 2025. The wholesaler-distributor organization won its request in court for a preliminary injunction in the enforcement of the Oregon law earlier this year.
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This story was originally published August 24, 2026 at 11:36 AM.