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California Product Stewardship Council

EIN 77-0695467 · Sacramento, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SHIFT CALIFORNIA'S MATERIAL ECONOMY FROM A LINEAR MODEL THAT SUBSIDIZES RESOURCE EXTRACTION, INCLUDING RATEPAYER-FINANCED COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL, TOWARDS A CICULAR ECONOMY THAT RELIES UPON PRODUCER-FINANCED AND MANAGED RECOVERY PROGRAMS WITH RELIABLE AND TRANSPARENT OVERSIGHT, WHILE IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ALL CALIFORNIANS.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 83%
Employees
9
Volunteers
1
Highest pay
$177,554, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 81% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $1.4 million spent. CALRECYCLE GRANT-FUNDED CONTRACTS WITH LOCAL JURISDICTIONS: CPSC CONTRACTED WITH NUMEROUS JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE STATE AS THEIR PRIMARY SERVICE PROVIDER FOR PROJECTS FUNDED BY CALRECYCLE HD GRANTS. THE PURPOSE OF THESE PROJECTS WAS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC REGARDING REUSABLE PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE USED AS A REPLACEMENT FOR SINGLE-USE PRODUCTS-- SUCH AS REUSABLE 1LB PROPANE CYLINDERS AND LED RECHARGEABLE MARINE FLARES-- AND PROVIDE THEM WITH FREE REUSABLE PRODUCTS. EACH OF THESE PROJETS WERE A SUCCESS IN THAT THEY RAISED AWARENESS OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WTIH DISPOSAL OF SINGLE-USE PRODUCTS, THE NEED TO SWITCH TO REUSABLES, AND HOW THE REUSABLE PRODUCTS ARE BETTER FOR OUR HEALTH, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
  2. $68,934 spent. CPSC SPONSORED SB-707 RESPONSIBLE TEXTILE RECOVERY ACT OF 2024, WHICH REQUIRES A PRODUCER OF APPAREL OR TEXTILE ARTICLES, AS DEFINED, TO FORM AND JOIN A PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY ORGANIZATION ("PRO"). THE BILL REQUIRES THE PRO TO BE APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT TO ADOPT REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM NO EARLIER THAN JULY 1, 2028. THE PRO WOULD ALSO BE REQURIED TO SUBMIT TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL, A COMPLETE PLAN FOR THE COLLECTION, TRANSPORTATION, REPAIR, SORTING, AND SAFE AND PROPER RECYCLING. IT WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR ON 9/28/24.CPSC ALSO SPONSORED SB-1280 WASTE MANAGEMENT: PROPANE CYLINDERS: REUSABLE OR REFILLABLE. THE BILL PROHIBITS THE SALE OR OFFER FOR SALE OF PROPANE CYLINDERS OTHER THAN THOSE THAT ARE REUSABLE OR REFILLABLE AFTER JANUARY 1,2028. THE BILL REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCES, RECYCLING AND RECOVERY TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS, AS NECESSARY, TO CARRY OUT THE ACT. AB-80 CARPET RECYCLING WAS ALSO SPONSORED BY CPSC. EXISTING LAW REQUIRES A CARPET STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZATION TO INCLUDE NONVOTING BOARD MEMBERS WITH REPRESENTATION FROM, AMOUNG OTHERS, A RETAILER THAT SELLS CARPET. THIS BILL INSTEAD WOULD REQUIRE THE STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZATION TO CREATE A GOVERNING BOARD FOR THE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM, AS SPECIFIED. THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE A PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY PLAN TO EXPLAIN HOW PRODUCERS WILL USE STANDARDIZED STAMPING OR SOME OTHER MEANS TO PROVIDE A VISUAL MARK ON THE BACK OF A COVERED PRODUCT THAT PROVIDES THE NAME OF THE MANUFACTURER, PRODUCER, THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE AND A LISTING OF THE TYPES OF FACE FIBERS AND BACKING MATERIALS CONTAINED IN THE PRODUCT. THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO ADOPT THE REGULATIONS NO LATER THAN 12/31/26.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2008.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.