Oakland, CA –The 16-person advisory board appointed by CalRecycle for the implementation of SB 54, also known as the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, held its first meeting on Feb. 2, 2024, in Sacramento.  

Timothy Burroughs, executive director of StopWaste, was elected as the board chair with unanimous support from the board members, recognizing his extensive experience in representing the interests of local governments, prioritizing the needs of disadvantaged communities, and working effectively with large public agency boards. He is honored to accept the role as chair and said, “I look forward to collaborating with leaders across California to accelerate progress toward a more sustainable and equitable economy and to make a positive impact on the communities we serve.”  

The board also elected Doug Kobold, executive director of the California Product Stewardship Council, as vice chair and Veronica Pardo, regulatory affairs director of Resource Recovery Coalition of California, as secretary.  

State law SB 54 sets new goals to reduce plastic packaging and requires that all forms of single-use packaging and foodware be recyclable or compostable by 2032. As part of the law’s requirements, CalRecycle, the agency implementing and enforcing the law, appointed advisory board members consisting of representatives of local government, environmental and environmental justice organizations, manufacturers, recycling and solid waste enterprises, and retail and grocery associations.  

“This law has the potential to dramatically reduce the litter and waste caused by packaging in our communities, stimulate investment in circular economy infrastructure in our state, and shift the burden away from consumers to the producers of packaging,” Burroughs added. 

StopWaste and partners are actively involved in the rulemaking process and working to engage local governments across the State. Read more about SB 54 on StopWaste’s website and keep up to date with the latest information on the Packaging EPR rulemaking process and issues via CalRecycle.  

StopWaste is a public agency that helps Alameda County residents, businesses, schools, and governments to become better stewards of the environment by preventing waste, saving energy, conserving resources, and taking action to increase community resilience to climate change.  

Media contact: Alma Freeman