A comprehensive plan to overhaul the state鈥檚 outdated recycling system passed the Washington State Senate. The Recycling Reform Act (SB 5284) would modernize Washington state鈥檚 recycling system by creating a producer responsibility program to require manufacturers and consumer brands to reduce unnecessary packaging, fund statewide collection services, and ensure materials put in curbside bins are recycled.
鈥淲ashington residents are asking for a cleaner, more accessible, and more sustainable recycling system,鈥� said Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes), the bill鈥檚 prime sponsor. 鈥淭his is our opportunity to reduce pollution, improve recycling rates, and divert materials away from landfills.鈥�
Washington would become the sixth state to adopt laws establishing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging, joining Maine, Oregon, California, Colorado, and Minnesota. British Columbia has had a successful EPR program in law for a decade.
EPR programs are designed to ensure producers take responsibility for reducing their environmental impact of packaging by addressing the waste after the consumer has used the product. This includes materials like bottles, cans, and boxes made from plastic, paper, metal, and glass. Under the legislation, EPR would be fully implemented in Washington by 2030.
Currently more than half of all paper and packaging in Washington ends up in landfills, wasting valuable material that could otherwise be recycled. The legislation would also increase access to recycling across the state. Currently, 58% of jurisdictions provide access to curbside recycling and in 11 counties, there鈥檚 no curbside recycling at all.
The state Department of Ecology, which will oversee the program, estimates the bill would expand recycling services to an additional 500,000 homes in Washington, most notably in rural areas and multi-family residences. Under the legislation, packaging producers will be primarily responsible for the costs of collecting the recyclable waste, and residents will see that as a reduction on their utility bills.
鈥淐ities have been supportive of this policy for almost a decade because we鈥檝e been struggling to deal with increased costs of recycling and have had to pass these costs onto our residents,鈥� Association of Washington Cities Board President Amy Ockerlander told the Senate Ways & Means Committee last month. 鈥淚n recent years, residents have seen their recycling utility bills go up over 30%. The bill will turn that around. This policy will save residents money, it will save cities money, and best of all, all state expenditures will be reimbursed.鈥�
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.