Products required to meet recycled content minimums
This page will help producers determine whether their products are subject to Washington’s recycled content law (Chapter 70A.254 RCW).
Exempt products
- Medical food, medical devices, dietary supplements, and baby formula
- Prescription and non-prescription drugs as regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Biohazard waste bags for infectious, soiled, or contaminated medical linens or waste
- Aerosols in plastic containers
Covered plastic beverage containers

Anatomy of covered plastic beverage containers
Mouth: The opening of the plastic bottle.
Neck: The screw-threaded part of the bottles that holds in place the cap or closure.
Base: The bottom part of the plastic bottle where recycling code, material mark, or other decoration can be applied. A plastic bottle can stand stably on the shelf with a base.
Included:
- Plastic beverage containers are bottles and other rigid containers made of one or more plastic resins.
- Plastic beverage containers' sizes ranges from two fluid ounces up to and including one gallon.
- Plastic beverage containers can be used to hold water, flavored water, beer, wine, spirits, soda, milk, juice, or any other beverage.
- Beverages can be for both human and animal consumption.
- Coffee creamers and non-dairy milks are considered beverages.
Not included:
- Refillable containers that function in a system of reuse.
- Bladders or pouches used for wine.
- Liners, caps, corks, closures, and labels.
- Containers for some medical, prescription drug, or dietary purposes.
Anatomy of covered plastic beverage containers
Mouth: The opening of the plastic bottle.
Neck: The screw-threaded part of the bottles that holds in place the cap or closure.
Base: The bottom part of the plastic bottle where recycling code, material mark, or other decoration can be applied. A plastic bottle can stand stably on the shelf with a base.
Covered trash bags

Anatomy of covered trash bags
Gauge: thickness of a trash bag
Mil: one-thousandth of an inch (.001)
Gauge requirement: at least 0.70 mils thick
Included:
- Covered trash bags include bags made of non-compostable plastic, garbage bags, recycling bags, lawn, or leaf bags, can liner bags, kitchen bags, compactor bags, and similar bags used for waste.
- Includes trash bags used in household, commercial, or industrial settings.
- Trash bags are required to meet additional labeling requirements in RCW 70A.245.060.
Not included:
-
Compostable bags meeting the requirements of Washington plastic product degradability law (Chapter 70A.455 RCW).
-
Plastic bags designed and manufactured for dangerous waste or biomedical waste are required to meet content requirements, however they are not required to meet labeling requirements.
Covered household cleaning & personal care products

Anatomy of covered household cleaning and personal care products in bottles
Mouth: The opening of the plastic bottle.
Neck: The screw-threaded part of the bottle that holds that cap or closure in place.
Base: The bottom part of the plastic bottle where recycling code, material mark, or other decoration can be applied. Plastic bottles can stand stably on the shelf with a base.
Included:
- Plastic bottles for household cleaning and personal care products include bottles, jugs, and other rigid containers made of one or multiple plastic resins.
- Plastic bottles for household cleaning and personal care products are considered a covered product if they have a neck or mouth smaller than the base and maintain their shape when empty.
- Plastic containers ranging from eight ounces or its equivalent volume up to and including five gallons or its equivalent volume.
Not included:
- Refillable containers that function in a system of reuse.
- Bottles used with medical products.
Covered tubes

Anatomy of covered tubes
Head: The screw-threaded part of the bottle that acts as the base for the cap or closure.
Shoulder: The area between the top of the body and the bottom of the head.
Body: The main part, where labels or printing can be applied.
Included
- Tubes are a covered product if they have a neck smaller than their base and they maintain their shape when empty.
- Covered plastic tubes range in size from eight ounces to five gallons.
Contact information
Recycled Content Resource Mailbox
recycledcontent@ecy.wa.gov