California Nursery Conference Digs Into Plastic Rules
If you’re in the nursery or landscaping business, you might want to take note of what was discussed at the 2025 California Nursery Conference. The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources hosted the event in Ventura County this year, bringing together growers, landscapers, and researchers to talk about what’s next for the horticulture industry.
One of the biggest talking points was plastics. The conference spent time unpacking Senate Bill 54, a 2022 law designed to curb pollution by requiring all single-use packaging sold in California to be recyclable or compostable by 2032. That includes the plastic pots so many nurseries rely on.
“It’s going to take a lot of money to comply with what they’re trying to do,” said Manuel Morales from Los Arroyos International Wholesale Nursery in Watsonville. “Some containers we reuse, but sometimes we can’t because we don’t want contaminants with the plant. And if you don’t have a place to recycle, what do you do with the plastic?”
Representatives from the Plant California Alliance reminded attendees that the official rules are still being drafted and urged nursery owners to get involved.
