Laws and Bills
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Global Plastics Treaty (UN negotiations)
International | Negotiations resuming; next formal session expected March 2027
A legally binding treaty on plastic pollution across its full life cycle, under negotiation since 2022.
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EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
European Union | Applies since 12 August 2026, with later phase-ins
Sets EU-wide rules for recyclable design, recycled content, reuse targets and labelling for all packaging.
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California AB 2253 (recycled content claims)
California, USA | On the Governor’s desk; decision due by 30 September 2026
Would require any product claiming recycled content to back the claim with documented, certified recycled content from 2030. Opposed by Bill Shireman, author of California’s bottle bill, in a featured viewpoint.
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California SB 54 (Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act)
California, USA | In implementation; full targets by 2032
The most ambitious US packaging law: 25 percent source reduction of plastic packaging and 65 percent recycling of single-use plastic by 2032.
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Basel Convention plastic waste amendments
International | In force since January 2021
Since 2021, shipments of mixed or contaminated plastic waste between countries need the prior consent of the importing country.
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EU Single-Use Plastics Directive
European Union | In force; bans since 2021, tethered caps since 2024
Bans single-use plastic items that have alternatives, such as cutlery, plates, straws and foam food containers, and requires tethered caps.
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Oregon SB 582 (Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act)
Oregon, USA | Operating; first fees July 2025
Packaging extended producer responsibility law; producers began paying fees in July 2025.
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Colorado HB22-1355 (Producer Responsibility Program for Recycling)
Colorado, USA | Operating; fees since January 2026
Packaging EPR law that funds statewide recycling access; producer fees began in January 2026.
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Maine LD 1541 (Stewardship Program for Packaging)
Maine, USA | In implementation; stewardship organization still being selected
First US packaging EPR law (2021), reimbursing municipalities for recycling costs.
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Minnesota HF 3911 (Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act)
Minnesota, USA | Early implementation
Packaging EPR law enacted in 2024 with reuse and reduction goals; producers cover at least half of costs from 2029.
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Maryland SB 901 (Packaging and Paper Products Producer Responsibility)
Maryland, USA | Early implementation; payments expected from 2028
Packaging EPR law enacted in 2025 that allows more than one producer responsibility organization.
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Washington SB 5284 (Packaging and Paper EPR)
Washington, USA | Early implementation
Packaging EPR law enacted in 2025; producer registration was due in July 2026 and the program starts later this decade.
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Pending state packaging EPR bills (New Jersey, Illinois and others)
Several US states | Pending
New Jersey is seen as the most likely next state; bills were also filed in Illinois, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Michigan. New York’s bill failed again in June 2026 and Massachusetts’ lapsed in July 2026.
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California SB 1053 (plastic checkout bags)
California, USA | In effect since January 2026
Ends the sale of thick “reusable” plastic film bags at checkout from 1 January 2026, closing a loophole in the state’s earlier bag ban.
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US Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015
United States | Law since December 2015
Federal ban on plastic microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics, prompted by research that included 5 Gyres’ Great Lakes sampling.
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US Save Our Seas 2.0 Act
United States | Law since December 2020
Federal law (2020) that strengthens marine debris response, funds research and supports international cooperation on ocean plastic.
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Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act (US Congress)
United States | Introduced, not enacted
Proposed federal bill for national producer responsibility, a bottle deposit and a pause on new plastic plants. Introduced in several sessions; not enacted.
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Texas: no statewide bag law
Texas, USA | Local bag bans preempted since 2018
Context for our Dallas network: in 2018 the Texas Supreme Court ruled that Laredo’s bag ban was preempted by state law, which ended local bag bans across Texas.
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Oregon Bottle Bill
Oregon, USA | In force since 1972
America’s first container deposit law (1971), still one of the highest-performing deposit systems in the country.
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UK Plastic Packaging Tax
United Kingdom | In force since April 2022
Tax on plastic packaging with less than 30 percent recycled content, in force since April 2022.
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France AGEC anti-waste law
France | In force since 2020, phased measures
Sets a path to end single-use plastic packaging by 2040, bans plastic around most fruit and vegetables, and requires microfibre filters in new washing machines.
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Panama City rivers, mangroves and bay cleanup plan
Panama City, Panama | Under way; 425 days of work
A US$4.8 million, 425-day program by the Alcaldía de Panamá to clear waste from the Matías Hernández and Río Abajo rivers, mangroves and the Bay of Panama shoreline. 534 tons removed by 12 September 2026.
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Panama plastic bag ban (Law 1 of 2018)
Panama | In force
Panama became the first country in Central America to ban single-use polyethylene bags, relevant to our Bocas del Toro projects.
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Chile single-use plastics in food service (Law 21.368)
Chile | In force, phased
Restricts single-use plastic in restaurants and food delivery and promotes refillable drink bottles; builds on Chile’s 2016 producer responsibility law.
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Mexico City single-use plastics ban
Mexico City, Mexico | In force
Banned plastic bags in 2020 and many single-use items such as cutlery, straws and cups in 2021.
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Kenya plastic bag ban
Kenya | In force since August 2017
One of the world’s strictest bag bans (2017), later extended to single-use plastics in protected areas.
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Rwanda single-use plastics law
Rwanda | In force
Rwanda banned plastic bags in 2008 and most single-use plastic items in 2019, and co-chairs the High Ambition Coalition.
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India ban on identified single-use plastics
India | In force since July 2022
Bans the making, sale and use of a list of low-utility single-use items, such as plastic cutlery, straws and thin carry bags, from July 2022.