Lubricants and waste oil: producer responsibility.

Assembly Member Michelle Rodriguez's legislation establishes a comprehensive producer responsibility program for lubricants and waste oil in California, requiring manufacturers to fund and manage the collection and proper disposal of these products through an industry-organized nonprofit entity.

The bill creates a producer responsibility organization (PRO) to develop and implement a statewide collection system for automotive fluids, lubricants, and related packaging at no cost to residents or local governments. Producers must register with the PRO and participate in an approved management plan that equitably distributes program costs based on sales volumes and product toxicity. The plan must achieve specific waste reduction targets - a 20% decrease in improper disposal by 2032 and 40% by 2035.

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) will oversee the program, with regulations taking effect no earlier than July 2028. The PRO must submit its plan within 12 months of the regulations and implement it within 90 days of approval. The plan requires annual reporting, independent financial audits, and reimbursement to local jurisdictions for collecting illegally dumped products.

The legislation establishes enforcement mechanisms through civil penalties up to $10,000 per day for violations and $50,000 per day for intentional breaches. Collected penalties will fund program administration and grants for recycling initiatives. Retailers and distributors may only sell products from compliant producers listed on CalRecycle's website.

To facilitate industry cooperation, the bill provides antitrust immunity for PRO activities like plan development and fee structures, while maintaining restrictions on price fixing and sales territory agreements. The program becomes operational once CalRecycle adopts regulations, approves a plan, and certifies implementation readiness to the Legislature.