A groundbreaking California law that compels packaging producers to phase out single-use plastics is already sparking anger from the chemicals industry and environmental groups just weeks after going into effect.

The law, which was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022 but only took effect in May, requires plastic and packaging companies to use less single-use plastic, and ensure by 2032 that all packaging is either recyclable or compostable. The big idea is to incentivize producers of plastics to consider the end of their products’ life in order to create better, more sustainable bottles, containers and wrappings.

Under the new rules, plastic producers have to cut single-use plastic, increase recycling rates, and pay $5bn to remedy harms from plastic pollution.

The science of plastic recycling is not encouraging: only 5-6% of plastic is ever recycled. And despite progress in recent years with local bans on plastic bags and packaging, and producers touting new technologies, experts say that rate is unlikely to change because the low cost of creating new plastic – and the markets for selling recycled plastic have dropped when China and other countries drastically reduced the amount of plastic they would purchase from the US.