What does California SB 343 restrict?
SB 343 prohibits use of the chasing arrows symbol or another indicator that a product or package is recyclable unless the applicable legal criteria are satisfied. CalRecycle explains that products and packaging labeled as recyclable generally must be regularly collected and processed for recycling in California.
Do not treat the symbol as a design choice. A recycling claim should be supported by the current CalRecycle findings, the relevant material form and any other evidence used in the company’s labeling analysis.
What changed before the October 2026 deadline?
CalRecycle published its SB 343 Material Characterization Study Final Findings on April 4, 2025. The 18-month implementation period following that publication leads to the October 4, 2026 manufacturing cutoff. CalRecycle also published an update to Table 2 of the Final Findings Report on June 24, 2026 and says it does not anticipate issuing a new complete report until 2027.
Does CalRecycle approve a specific product or package as recyclable?
No. CalRecycle states that it publishes information about materials actually recycled in California but does not determine the recyclability of a particular product or package and does not approve a company’s use of the chasing arrows symbol. The responsible parties must evaluate the claim using the official findings and any other reliable information relevant to the product or packaging.
SB 343 versus SB 54
| California law | Primary issue | Immediate 2026 question |
|---|---|---|
| SB 343 | Whether a product or package may use chasing arrows or another recyclability indicator. | Does packaging manufactured after October 4, 2026 have a substantiated recyclability claim? |
| SB 54 | Packaging producer responsibility, registration, reporting, source reduction, recycling and program funding. | Which legal entity is the producer and which compliance pathway applies? |
The laws are related but not interchangeable. A package may need review under both laws, and the entity responsible for a labeling decision may not be the same team or legal entity that owns the SB 54 producer record.
Operational checklist before October 4, 2026
What should the evidence file contain?
Official California sources
Related California compliance guides
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