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AB 1325

Lubricants and waste oil: producer responsibility.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Michelle Rodriguez

AB 1325 shifts end-of-life lubricant and waste oil collection and management costs from locals to producers via a state-regulated program run by a Producer Responsibility Organizat

From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
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Bill Summary · AB 1325

AB 1325 — Lubricants and waste oil: producer responsibility

Author: Flora Michelle Rodriguez
Status (as of 04/18/2025): In committee; first hearing set then canceled at author's request. Introduced: 02/21/2025.

Purpose / Intent

AB 1325 would establish a producer responsibility program for lubricants and waste oil in California. The bill aims to shift end‑of‑life collection, transport, and management costs and responsibilities for petroleum‑based automotive lubricants and related products from local governments and residents to producers, while creating a statewide, regulated system to reduce illegal disposal and improve recycling/reuse.

Key provisions

  • Creates a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) model:
    • Producers of specified “covered products” (defined to include petroleum‑based automotive products and related items) must register with the PRO.
    • The PRO must establish and operate a convenient collection and management system for covered products at no cost to residents or local governments.
    • The PRO must develop and implement a product responsibility plan covering collection, transportation, and safe management of covered products.
  • Regulatory and timeline framework:
    • CalRecycle, in coordination with DTSC, to adopt implementing regulations with an effective date no earlier than July 1, 2028.
    • Within 12 months of the regulations’ effective date, the PRO must submit a product responsibility plan to CalRecycle.
    • CalRecycle (with DTSC) must approve, partially approve, or disapprove the plan within 6 months of receipt; if no action is taken within one year, the plan is conditionally approved. The PRO must implement an approved plan within 90 days.
  • Funding, fees, and financial oversight:
    • Plans must include a funding mechanism that equitably distributes costs among participant producers.
    • Participant producers (through the PRO) pay an annual administrative charge to CalRecycle (amount/schedule to be set by CalRecycle and DTSC) to cover program administration and enforcement.
    • Establishes the Lubricant and Waste Oil Producer Responsibility Fund and a Penalty Account to receive administrative charges and civil penalties; expenditures subject to appropriation.
    • PRO must reimburse local jurisdictions for costs related to illegally dumped covered products and for collection if the plan relies on local governments.
  • Reporting, audits, enforcement:
    • Annual PRO reports to CalRecycle; retention of records, annual audits, and documents submitted under penalty of perjury.
    • Administrative civil penalties for violations.
    • By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill creates a state‑mandated local program (but the bill states no state reimbursement required for specified reasons).
  • Interaction with existing laws:
    • Makes the California Oil Recycling Enhancement Act (used oil program and gallon charge) inoperative once specified conditions are met (including a CalRecycle certification letter).
    • Exempts products covered by an approved lubricant/waste oil plan from the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act.

Who is affected

  • Producers and manufacturers of petroleum‑based lubricants and related products (required to register and fund the PRO).
  • Producer Responsibility Organizations (new operational responsibilities).
  • CalRecycle and DTSC (regulatory, approval, enforcement, and administrative roles).
  • Local governments and residents (benefit from free collection services and potential reimbursements; may be relieved of ongoing program costs).
  • Existing used oil program stakeholders (charges/funds under the current California Oil Recycling Enhancement Act would be phased out if conditions are met).

Procedural / Timeline notes

  • Regulatory effective date cannot be earlier than July 1, 2028.
  • Plan submission: within 12 months after regulations take effect.
  • CalRecycle action: target 6 months; conditional approval if no final action within one year.
  • Implementation by PRO: within 90 days after plan approval.

Potential impacts

  • Shifts collection and end‑of‑life costs to producers, potentially altering product pricing and supply‑chain responsibilities.
  • Could reduce illegal dumping and increase recycling/appropriate handling of used lubricants.
  • Creates ongoing administrative and enforcement costs funded by producer fees; establishes a new state fund and penalty account.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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