17 states and trade group sue California over plastics packaging law
[June 24, 2026] By
SARAH RANKIN
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A coalition of 17 states and a trade association
representing U.S. wholesalers and distributors have sued California to
block the enforcement of a stringent recycling law that aims to reduce
plastic packaging waste.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court, argues that California’s
recently finalized regulations that will gradually require companies to
scale back single-use plastics and ensure all packaging is recycling or
compostable should be struck down. The plaintiffs called the regulations
“onerous mandates” that will cause steep price increases in everyday
necessities that will be passed on, at least in part, to consumers.
“Once again, California is trying to enact a policy that negatively
impacts the rest of the country. If California goes unchecked, consumers
will be forced to pay more for basic necessities,” Nebraska Attorney
General Mike Hilgers, who led the coalition, said in a news release.
The law, called the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer
Responsibility Act, was enacted in 2022.
“Virtually every product packaged or shipped in plastic containers, as
well as a significant number of other types of packaging materials that
merely incorporate plastics, fall into the Act’s remarkable sweep,” the
lawsuit said.
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, which represents
companies that import and distribute goods in California, also joined
the lawsuit.
“California is not entitled to pronounce nationwide policies,” Eric
Hoplin, the trade association's president and CEO, said in a statement.
“Because the Act extends California’s regulatory reach far beyond its
borders and brings within its sweep conduct wholly unconnected to
California, the Act violates principles of federalism, the horizontal
separation of powers, and due process.”
The lawsuit argues the law violates both the U.S. and California
constitutions. It asks the court to declare California's law invalid and
unenforceable, and halt its implementation.
The lawsuit names as defendants Zoe Heller, director of California's
recycling agency known as CalRecycle, and the Circular Action Alliance,
a nonprofit involved with implementing the law.
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Plastic bottles of shampoo are displayed at Compton's Market in
Sacramento, Calif., Friday, June 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Rich
Pedroncelli, File)
 Melanie Turner, a spokesperson for
CalRecycle, said in an emailed statement that the agency does not
comment on pending litigation and that it remained focused on
implementing the law.
The alliance said in a statement that it was aware of the lawsuit
and closely monitoring developments while at the same time working
to implement the law's “ambitious goals.”
In a May news release announcing regulations under the law, state
officials said the changes would fight plastics pollution while
protecting the interests of taxpayers and local governments.
“California is shifting the responsibility of managing single-use
plastic and packaging onto the producers. New packaging reforms
lower waste costs for communities and decrease garbage and pollution
across the state,” Environmental Protection Secretary Yana Garcia
said in a statement. “This approach pushes producers to innovate and
design packaging that truly supports a circular economy.”
Joining Nebraska in the lawsuit were 16 other states with Republican
attorneys general: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa,
Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South
Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and West Virginia.
Environmental groups also have sued over the law. A coalition that
included the Natural Resources Defense Council recently filed a
complaint over what it said in a news release were “weakened” final
regulations for the “landmark” law.
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