Compostable product labelling laws by state (CA, CO, WA, MN, MD)

Five states set rules for what can be labelled "compostable" and ban "biodegradable"-type claims on packaging. All five tie "compostable" to the ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards. Colorado, Washington and Minnesota require third-party certification; Maryland requires a certification logo only on compostable bags; California's certification rule depends on CalRecycle approving certifiers. California also adds an organic-input test that, after a CalRecycle extension, bites on June 30, 2027. Below is what each statute says, quoted from the law itself. These are separate from the packaging EPR laws, and they apply whether or not you're exempt from EPR. Nothing here says whether a particular product complies.

At a glance

State and law	Standard for "compostable"	Certification	Colour or tint	Banned claims	Enforcement
California PRC 42355–42358.5	ASTM D6400 or D6868 (2019 editions)	From an approved certifier, once CalRecycle has approved one for a year	Green, for compostable plastic bags	"biodegradable", "degradable", "decomposable", on any product	City, county or state: $500, $1,000, then $2,000
Colorado C.R.S. 25-17-801 to -806	ASTM D6400 or D6868	Required: "recognized, independent, third-party verification body"	Green	Seven words, including "natural", on plastic products	CDPHE complaint forum, then the Attorney General
Washington RCW 70A.455	D6400, D6868, D8410, ISO 17088, EN 13432, or plain wood/fibre	Logo from a recognized third-party certifier	Green, beige or brown	"biodegradable", "degradable", "decomposable", "oxo-degradable", on plastic products	Ecology, cities and counties: up to $2,000, $5,000, then $10,000
Minnesota Minn. Stat. 325E.046	ASTM D6400 or D6868, or plain wood or paper	Required since January 1, 2026, from a qualifying nonprofit	None in the statute	"biodegradable", "degradable", "decomposable", on bags, food or beverage products and packaging	Attorney General or MPCA: $100 per unit, up to $5,000
Maryland Env. 9-2101 to 9-2105	ASTM D6400 or D6868	Logo required on compostable bags; food or beverage products need a logo or the word "compostable"	Green, for compostable plastic bags	"biodegradable", "degradable", "decomposable", on plastic products	Local governments: $500, $1,000, then $2,000

California

Law: Public Resources Code 42357, with definitions in 42356, the bag rules in 42357.5 and penalties in 42358. The chapter has been operative since January 1, 2013. AB 1201 (2021) and SB 1046 (2022) added the current conditions. "Product" includes "a package or a packaging component", film bags and wraps, and food or beverage containers, including straws, lids and utensils.

Standard: a product labelled "compostable" must meet ASTM D6400 or D6868 "as published in 2019". Meeting only part of a standard doesn't count. "Home compostable" requires TÜV Austria's OK compost HOME certification.
Certification: from January 1, 2024, the product must be certified by a third-party certification entity approved by CalRecycle, but the rule "shall not apply unless there is, and has been for at least one year immediately prior to the product being sold or offered for sale, a third-party certification entity approved by the department". The statute names no certifier. We found no CalRecycle list of approved entities as of October 4, 2026, so check with CalRecycle whether this condition has started to apply.
Organic-input test and June 30, 2027: from January 1, 2026, the statute requires a product labelled "compostable" to be "an allowable agricultural organic input" under the USDA National Organic Program. In a letter of June 11, 2025, CalRecycle granted a two-year extension for "products that contain synthetic substances that otherwise satisfy all requirements for lawfully being labeled 'compostable'", which "shall expire as of June 30, 2027". CalRecycle's labelling page says: "Beginning June 30, 2027*, all compostable consumer products must be made of materials that are allowable agricultural organic inputs under the USDA National Organic Program requirements." The letter says a renewed extension is possible but "shall not extend beyond January 1, 2031."
Other conditions: total organic fluorine of no more than 100 parts per million; labelled so it is distinguishable from a noncompostable product "upon reasonable inspection by consumers"; and designed to go with food scraps and yard trimmings collected for composting.
Colour: the statute's colour rules cover compostable plastic bags. A bag needs a certification logo showing it meets ASTM D6400 (if it has been certified) and either a uniform green colour with "compostable" at least 1 inch high on one side, or "compostable" on both sides in green lettering at least 1 inch high or inside a green band at least 1 inch high. Compostable bags can't show a chasing-arrows symbol. Green, beige or brown tinting on a plastic carryout bag that can't be labelled compostable counts as implying it will break down.
Banned claims: no product may be labelled "biodegradable," "degradable," or "decomposable," "or any form of those terms", or imply that it will break down in a landfill or other environment.
Proof: on request from a member of the public, a manufacturer or supplier must provide compliance documentation within 90 days.
Enforcement: "A city, a county, or the state may impose civil liability" of $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second and $2,000 for each later one, in addition to remedies under California's Unfair Competition Law (Business and Professions Code 17200).

Colorado

Law: SB 23-253, which added C.R.S. 25-17-801 to 25-17-806 (effective August 7, 2023). The compostable requirements in 25-17-803 took effect July 1, 2024. The marketing bans in 25-17-804 and the duty to provide proof of compliance on request (25-17-805) took effect January 1, 2024. CDPHE's FAQ says there is no sell-through period for old stock, and that the law covers "both brick & mortar retail as well as e-commerce".

Standard and certification: a producer may not represent a product as compostable unless it is "certified compostable in accordance with ASTM D6400 or ASTM D6868". Certified compostable means certification "by a recognized, independent, third-party verification body". The statute names no certifier. CDPHE's FAQ says: "Products certified by BPI or Compost Manufacturing Alliance (CMA) meet the requirements of ASTM D6400 and therefore, are accepted as certified compostable."
Labelling: the product and its packaging must "display a certification logo", "display the word 'compostable' where possible" and "use green-colored labeling or striping or other easily recognizable green symbols, colors, tinting, marks, or design patterns". Small products, those with a printable surface one-half inch wide or less, such as straws and utensils, need only one of the three. Accessories such as lids must meet the full rule, describe their recyclability, or say "landfill only". Products made entirely of untreated wood are exempt.
Colour: green, used on compostable products. A product that isn't certified compostable may not use the tinting, colour schemes, labelling or words required for compostable products, though brand colours are allowed.
Banned claims: a producer of a plastic product may not use "natural", "biodegradable", "degradable", "decomposable", "oxo-degradable", "bioassimilable", "omnidegradable", or similar words. Compostable products may not show "a chasing arrow resin identification code or recycling symbol of any form."
Scope: the statute applies to producers as defined in Colorado's packaging EPR law, excluding certain agricultural brand owners and licensed retail food establishments. Section 25-17-803 says "a product", but CDPHE's FAQ says the requirements "are specific and limited to 'plastic products' and 'food service products.'"
Enforcement: CDPHE runs a complaint forum and must pass "nonfrivolous and nontrivial complaints" to the Attorney General's office. Part 8 itself sets no penalty amount. CDPHE says liability falls on the producer.

Washington

Law: RCW 70A.455, first enacted in 2019 and amended in 2022, 2024 and 2025. Ecology's labelling page says: "As of Jan. 1, 2024, compostable products need to be labeled according to this law."

Standard: a product labelled "compostable" must meet ASTM D6400, D6868 or D8410, ISO 17088, EN 13432, or a substantially similar standard approved by Ecology. Alternatively, it may be made only of wood, or of fibre with more than 98% fibre by dry weight and no plastic or wax additives or coatings (RCW 70A.455.040).
Certification and labelling: products relying on a standard must use "a logo indicating the product has been certified by a recognized third-party independent verification body", display "compostable" where possible, follow the FTC Green Guides, and use "green, beige, or brown labeling, color striping, or other green, beige, or brown symbols, colors, tinting, marks, or design patterns". Ecology says wood and high-fibre products "do not require labeling" if they have no plastic additives, coatings or waxes.
Colour details: compostable film bags must be tinted green, beige or brown with "compostable" at least 1 inch high, or carry "compostable" on both sides in green, beige or brown lettering at least 1 inch high or inside a band at least 1 inch high, and may not show chasing arrows (.050). Plastic food service products and food-contact film must be at least partly coloured or tinted green, beige or brown, or carry a stripe or band at least 0.25 inches wide; non-food-contact film must use green (.060). Non-compostable bags may not use those colour schemes, including green, brown or beige botanical motifs such as leaves or vines (.070).
Banned claims: no producer may sell a plastic product labelled "biodegradable," "degradable," "decomposable," "oxo-degradable," or similar, or imply that it will break down in a landfill or other environment (.030). "Home compostable" is allowed only if the product is also certified for industrial composting and isn't labelled "home compostable only" (.130).
Declaration: producers must submit to Ecology, "under penalty of perjury", a declaration that the product meets the standards: by January 1, 2024 for products already sold, and before selling a new product or changing how a product complies (.120).
Enforcement: Ecology "must begin enforcing the requirements of this chapter by July 1, 2024." Ecology, cities and counties share enforcement. Penalties are up to $2,000 for a first violation, $5,000 for a second and $10,000 for the third and later ones. Repeat sales of the same SKU count as one violation, and a city or county must first give 90 days' notice (.090, .100).

Minnesota

Law: Minn. Stat. 325E.046, as amended in 2023 (effective January 1, 2025). It covers a "bag, food or beverage product, or packaging", and applies to manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers and to anyone who knowingly sells or offers the product for sale in Minnesota.

Standard: a product labelled "compostable" must meet ASTM D6400 or D6868 (or a successor) and be labelled to show it, or be made only of wood or only of paper "without any coatings or additives".
Certification since January 1, 2026: a product labelled "biodegradable" or "compostable" must be certified by an entity that is a nonprofit, whose primary focus is promoting materials "designed to fully biodegrade in specific biologically active environments such as industrial composting", and that is technically able to test compliance. The MPCA says: "The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) is an example of a certifier that meets the law's requirements".
Labelling: the product, or its smallest unit of sale, must be "clearly and prominently labeled" to show "that it is intended for an industrial or commercial compost facility", in legible type. The statute has no colour or tint requirement.
Banned claims: "biodegradable," "degradable," "decomposable," or similar terms are banned unless an ASTM standard exists for the term and the product is certified to it.
Enforcement: a civil or administrative penalty of $100 "for each prepackaged saleable unit sold or offered for sale up to a maximum of $5,000", plus injunctions. Both the Attorney General and the MPCA commissioner can enforce, and sellers must give the MPCA compliance information on request.

Maryland

Law: Maryland Code, Environment §§ 9-2101 to 9-2105, enacted by HB 1349 (2017), Chapter 374, in force since October 1, 2018. It covers plastic products, including packaging, film products and food or beverage products made of plastic or plastic-coated paper, but not personal care products regulated under Subtitle 20 of the Environment Article.

Standard: a plastic product labelled "compostable" must meet ASTM D6400 or D6868 and "any applicable labeling guidelines" in the FTC Green Guides. "Home compostable" requires the OK Compost Home certification (§ 9-2102).
Certification and labelling: the statute has no general certification requirement. Compostable plastic bags must carry "a certification logo indicating the bag meets the ASTM D6400 standard specification" (§ 9-2103). Compostable food or beverage products must be labelled with a certification logo showing D6400 or D6868, or labelled "as compostable" (§ 9-2104).
Colour: compostable plastic bags must be uniformly green with "COMPOSTABLE" at least 1 inch high on one side, or have green "COMPOSTABLE" lettering at least 1 inch high on both sides, or have "COMPOSTABLE" at least one-half inch high on both sides inside a contrasting green band at least 1 inch high. They may not be labelled recyclable.
Banned claims: a plastic product may not be labelled "biodegradable, degradable, decomposable, or with any other term to imply that the product will break down, fragment, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or any other environment" (agricultural mulch film that meets a soil-biodegradation standard is excepted).
Enforcement: civil penalties of $500, $1,000 and then $2,000, "paid to the county, municipality, or other local government that brought the enforcement action" (§ 9-2105). The legislature's fiscal note assumed local governments would enforce, not the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Points to check for your own packaging

Which states you sell into, including online sales shipped there. Colorado's regulator says its law covers e-commerce.
Which standard and certifier each compostable item is certified to, and whether that certification is current.
Whether the item is a bag, food service ware, film or other packaging, since the colour rules differ by type.
Every place a banned word appears: the item, its packaging, and (in Colorado's case) marketing and advertising.
California's June 30, 2027 organic-input date, if your compostable items contain synthetic substances.

Whether a specific product meets these rules is a question for the certifier, the regulator or your counsel.

Compostable packaging is still covered packaging. Labelling laws are separate from the packaging EPR laws, which cover packaging by material whether or not it is compostable. Check which states you report in.

Check all seven states in two minutes

Need the numbers for your report? We turn your product catalog, packaging and sales into pounds per category for each state, with a written methodology, for a fixed one-time price: from $390 for one state and up to 50 products, plus $150 for each extra state. No subscription. Email hello@eprhelp.com with your states and roughly how many products you sell, and we'll reply with your exact quote.

Sources

California Public Resources Code: 42356, 42357, 42357.5, 42358
CalRecycle: Truth-in-labeling laws for plastic products; extension letter to BPI, June 11, 2025 (PDF)
Colorado: SB 23-253, Session Laws 2023, chapter 209 (PDF); C.R.S. Title 25 (2024), sections 25-17-713 and 25-17-801 to -806 (PDF); CDPHE Compostable Product Labeling Act FAQ
Washington: RCW 70A.455; Ecology, Compostable plastic labeling requirements
Minnesota: Minn. Stat. 325E.046; Laws 2023, chapter 60, article 3, section 23; MPCA, Compostable product labeling
Maryland: Environment §§ 9-2101, 9-2102, 9-2103, 9-2104, 9-2105; HB 1349 (2017) fiscal and policy note (PDF)

General information, not legal advice. Rules change; we re-verify each season.