Compostable plastic is often sent to landfills due to conflicts with CDFA regulations. Waste facilities struggle to market to agricultural customers compost that contains these plastic products.
According to the California Compost Coalition, this inhibits the state’s “lofty goals” of reducing emissions under Senate Bill 1383. During an Assembly hearing this week, a policy advocate for the coalition said “New Food Safety Modernization Act requirements—along with marketing agreements and other directives from conventional produce purchasers like Walmart, McDonald's and others—are pushing most conventional growers to use only CDFA-certified organic input.”
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A bill by Asm. Phil Ting of San Francisco aims to fix this by setting new standards for compostable products.
Another measure proposes to better coordinate agencies in regulating food and agricultural waste. Proponents hope this will free up more material for composting and bioenergy production.
