17 States Sue California Over Plastic Packaging Law

A coalition of 17 states, led by Nebraska, and the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors filed a federal lawsuit on June 22, 2026, to block California's Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54). The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, seeks a permanent injunction against the California Department of Resources Recycling & Recovery (CalRecycle) and the Circular Action Alliance.

Signed in 2022 and effective May 1, 2026, the law requires producers to reduce single-use plastic packaging by 25% and ensures all packaging is recyclable or compostable by 2032. Plaintiffs argue the act violates the Commerce Clause and principles of federalism by extending California's regulatory reach beyond its borders, which they claim will increase consumer costs for basic necessities nationwide.

California officials, including Environmental Protection Secretary Yana Garcia, defend the legislation as a necessary step to shift waste management responsibility to producers and foster a circular economy. Simultaneously, the state faces a separate legal challenge in San Francisco Superior Court from environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council. These plaintiffs allege that final regulations created loopholes and were too weak to achieve the law's original plastic reduction goals.