California Code of Regulations
Title 14 - Natural Resources
Division 7 - Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
Chapter 4 - Resource Conservation Programs
Article 3 - Rigid Plastic Packaging Container Program
Section 17945.5 - Compliance Calculation and Formulas

Universal Citation: 14 CA Code of Regs 17945.5

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) The product manufacturer shall use the following formulas to calculate its claim of compliance. The calculation shall be carried out to two decimal places. Unless otherwise noted, all weights should be in grams and all calculations should be by container line.

(b) Postconsumer Material Content Compliance

For rigid plastic packaging containers for which compliance is claimed through the use of postconsumer material (PCM) content pursuant to Section 17944(a)(1), use the following formulas:

(1) For a single rigid plastic packaging container line:

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where:

WPCM = the weight of postconsumer material in each rigid plastic packaging container

WRPPC = the total weight of each rigid plastic packaging container

(2) For averaging multiple rigid plastic packaging container lines:

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where:

WPCM = the weight of postconsumer material in each rigid plastic packaging container

WRPPC = the total weight of each rigid plastic packaging container

n = the number of container lines being averaged

(3) To comply under this option, the postconsumer material content must be equal to or greater than 25.00 percent.

(c) Alternative Container Compliance Method

For compliance claimed through use of California postconsumer material pursuant to Section 17944.1, use the following formula:

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where:

WPCM = the weight of postconsumer material in each rigid plastic packaging container

NRPPC = the number of rigid plastic packaging containers

WOPP = the weight of postconsumer material in each other (i.e., non-RPPC) plastic packaging container or plastic product

NOPP = the number of other (non-RPPC) plastic packaging containers or units of plastic products

n = the number of container (or other plastic packaging or plastic product) lines being averaged

WRPPC = the total weight of the rigid plastic packaging containers in the rigid plastic packaging container lines

To comply under this option, the postconsumer material content must be equal to or greater than 25.00 percent.

(d) Source Reduction Compliance

For rigid plastic packaging containers for which compliance is claimed through source reduction pursuant to Section 17944(a)(4), use the following formulas:

(1) For a single rigid plastic packaging container line where the container weight has been reduced:

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where:

WN = the weight of the non-source reduced rigid plastic packaging container

WS = the weight of the source reduced rigid plastic packaging container

(2) For a single rigid plastic packaging container line where the product has been concentrated:

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where:

USEN = units of use of the non-source reduced product

USES = units of use of the source reduced (concentrated) product

(3) For a single rigid plastic packaging container line with a combination of concentrating the product and reducing the weight of the rigid plastic packaging container that holds the product:

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where:

WN = the weight of the non-source reduced rigid plastic packaging container

USEN = units of use of the non-source reduced rigid plastic packaging container

WS = the weight of the source reduced rigid plastic packaging container

USES = units of use of the source reduced rigid plastic packaging container

(4) For averaging source reduction over multiple rigid plastic packaging container lines with either container weight reduction and/or product concentration:

Click here to view image

where:

WN = the weight of the non-source reduced rigid plastic packaging container

USEN = units of use of the non-source reduced rigid plastic packaging container

WS = the weight of the source reduced rigid plastic packaging container USES = units of use of the source reduced rigid plastic packaging container

n = the number of container lines being averaged

(5) To comply under this option, the Percent Source Reduced must be equal to or greater than 10.00 percent.

(e) Reusable Rigid Plastic Packaging Container Compliance

For rigid plastic packaging containers for which compliance is claimed through reuse of the containers pursuant to Section 17944(a)(3), use the following formulas for the given measurement period:

(1) For a single rigid plastic packaging container line:

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where:

R = the number of replacement product packages sold during the period

P = the number of original rigid plastic packaging containers sold during the period

VR = the volume of the replacement product package

VP = the volume of the original rigid plastic packaging container

(2) For averaging multiple rigid plastic packaging container lines:

Click here to view image

where:

R = the number of replacement product packages sold during the period

P = the number of original rigid plastic packaging containers sold during the period

VR = the volume of the replacement product package

VP = the volume of the original rigid plastic packaging container

n = the number of container lines being averaged

(3) If the replacement product is a different concentration than the original product, the product manufacturer must provide the appropriate conversion factor. The conversion factor shall explain the number of uses per weight unit or volume unit of product for both the original product and for the replacement product.

(4) To comply under this option, the Average Reuse Per Container must be equal to or greater than 5.00 reuses.

(f) Refillable Rigid Plastic Packaging Container Compliance

For rigid plastic packaging containers for which compliance is claimed through the refilling of the container by the product manufacturer pursuant to Section 17944(a)(3), use the following formulas for the given measurement period:

(1) For a single rigid plastic packaging container line:

Average Refills Per Container = F/P

where:

F = the number of refills of rigid plastic packaging containers made by the product manufacturer during the period

P = the number of original rigid plastic packaging containers sold during the measurement period

(2) For averaging multiple rigid plastic packaging container lines:

Click here to view image

where:

F = the number of refills of rigid plastic packaging containers made by the product manufacturer during the period

P = the number of original rigid plastic packaging containers sold during the measurement period

n = the number of container lines being averaged

(3) To comply under this option, the Average Refills Per Container must be equal to or greater than 5.00 refills.

1. Renumbering of former section 17946.5 to new section 17945.5, including amendment of section heading, section and NOTE, filed 6-28-2012; operative 1-1-2013 (Register 2012, No. 26).
2. Editorial correction of subsections (d)(2) and (f)(2) (Register 2013, No. 15).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 40502 and 42325, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 42310, 42320 and 42325, Public Resources Code.

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