California: it's official

California Governor Pete Wilson signed the bill permanently exempting food and cosmetics packaging from the state's Rigid Plastic Package Container (RPPC) law.

Applauding the action, NFPA's senior director of government affairs Brian Folkerts said, "The RPPC-which set unachievable recycling mandates for food packaging-does not take into account the complex process of packaging design for food products, nor does it address the important food safety concerns involved in the use of recycled materials in food packaging." Source reduction is in manufacturers' best interests, and consumers appreciate responsible use of recycled materials, noted Folkerts. Together, these factors will drive the use of recycled materials.

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