Carpet recycling.

Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry's carpet recycling legislation revises California's producer responsibility framework by expanding collection infrastructure and strengthening oversight of industry recycling programs. The bill modifies the existing stewardship system by broadening approved collection sites to include carpet recycling centers, municipal facilities, and retailers, while requiring producers to publish detailed product composition information and implement standardized labeling.

The legislation establishes new requirements for producer responsibility organizations (PROs), including restructured governing boards with environmental NGO representation and comprehensive annual reporting on collection metrics, financial data, and program outcomes. PROs must maintain sufficient operating reserves and develop contingency plans to ensure program continuity. By 2028, carpet manufacturers must incorporate 5% postconsumer recycled content into their products, with the department authorized to adjust future recycling targets.

Beginning January 2029, carpet installers must transport removed materials to approved collection sites, though exceptions exist for products returned directly to manufacturers under monitored conditions. The bill revises civil penalties for violations, maintaining base fines of $10,000 per day while specifying a $25,000 daily penalty for intentional infractions. Implementation deadlines require the department to adopt regulations by December 2026, allowing a structured transition period for industry compliance with expanded collection and recycling mandates.

The amendments allocate 8% of program assessments to apprenticeship training, split between Northern and Southern California, to develop skilled labor in proper installation and recycling practices. Collection sites must follow strict protocols for material handling and storage, coordinating with authorized processors to facilitate efficient recycling operations. The legislation's reporting and oversight provisions aim to track progress through detailed metrics on collection rates, processing outcomes, and program effectiveness.