Update to California SB 343 Recognizes Carton Recyclability
Following a thorough review of additional information regarding new carton sortation for recycling across California, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has published an update to its Senate Bill 343 Final Findings Report findings to confirm that food and beverage cartons meet the statewide sortation threshold required for recyclable labeling under the statute.
The June 24, 2026, update revises Table 2 of CalRecycle’s SB 343 Final Findings Report to reflect that cartons are now sorted for recycling by large-volume transfer and processing facilities serving 62% of California counties. This exceeds the threshold established by SB 343 that determines whether a package can be labeled as recyclable.
“This update reflects the real and growing capacity of California’s recycling system to recover and recycle food and beverage cartons,” said Jordan Fengel, President of the Carton Council. “We are pleased that on-package labeling will continue to accurately communicate that cartons should be recycled, helping to provide sufficient material to established and emerging recycling end markets.”
CalRecycle’s updated evaluation incorporates newly verified sortation at three California material recovery facilities (MRFs):
- Western Placer Waste Management Authority MRF in Roseville
- Pacific Recycling Solutions MRF in Ukiah
- Cold Canyon Landfill MRF in San Luis Obispo
Together with facilities previously identified by CalRecycle, these operations sort cartons into PSI Grade 52 bales and serve 21 California counties. The update reflects how cartons are collected, sorted and marketed throughout the recycling system.
“This milestone is the result of continued collaboration across the recycling value chain,” Fengel said. “We appreciate the facilities that have invested with us in carton sortation, the communities that include cartons in their recycling programs, and CalRecycle’s careful review of all available data.”
SB 343 permits the use of the chasing-arrows symbol and other recyclability claims only for products and packaging that satisfy the criteria outlined in California law. CalRecycle’s characterization findings provide the collection and sortation data used to evaluate materials under those requirements.
The Carton Council will continue working with communities, material recovery facilities and recycling end markets to expand carton recovery and ensure that valuable carton material is returned to productive use.
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