Enacting waste and recycling legislation

Bill: HB 1543

Law: RCW 70.370

Effective: July 2019

To support recycling markets, the Washington Legislature has established the Recycling Development Center within Ecology. The Recycling Development Center is tasked with researching, developing, expanding, and incentivizing markets for recycled commodities. We are partnering with the Washington Department of Commerce to further the development of markets for recycled products.

Learn more about the Recycling Development Center

Bill: HB 1543

Law: RCW 70.95.090

Effective: July 2019

To combat contaminants in Washington's recycling stream, we are working with stakeholders to develop and implement a statewide Contamination Reduction and Outreach Plan (CROP). This statewide plan, due July 1, 2020, will identify problematic contaminants and address strategies to reduce them. Local governments are required to create and implement individual recycling CROPs, or use the state plan, by July 1, 2021.

 

Learn more about CROPs

 

Bill: HB 1114

Law: RCW 70.95.815

Effective: July 2019

To combat food waste in Washington, this bill calls for us to partner with the Washington departments of Health, Agriculture, and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to write a food waste prevention plan. This plan will recommend actions to achieve a 50% reduction in food waste in Washington by 2030.

 

Learn more about the developing Food Waste Reduction Plan

 

Bill: SB 5397

Law: RCW 70.380

Effective: July 2019

This law requires that we evaluate and assess the amount and types of plastic packaging sold into Washington, as well as their management and disposal. We will contract with an independent consultant to conduct the evaluation and assessment. 

This law requires that we submit a legislative report on the evaluation and assessment of plastic packaging by Oct. 31, 2020. The report will also include recommendations to reduce plastic packaging waste through industry initiative, product stewardship, or both. As part of this law, the Legislature intends that we consult with industry and consumer interests and develop options to reduce plastic packaging in the waste stream. It is to be implemented by January 1, 2022.

For more information contact:

Alli Kingfisher
alli.kingfisher@ecy.wa.gov
509-329-3448

 

Bill: HB 1652

Law: RCW 70.375

Effective: July 2019

This law requires all producers of architectural paint, selling in or into Washington, to participate in an approved state paint stewardship plan through membership in and funding of a stewardship organization. This stewardship organization will submit a plan for implementation by May 30, 2020.

For more information contact:

Megan Warfield
megan.warfield@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6963

 

Bill: HB 1569

Law: RCW 70.360

Effective: July 1, 2020

This law requires environmental marketing claims for plastics to follow uniform and recognized standards for "compostability" and "biodegradability."  Plastic products marketed as such must be readily and easily identifiable as meeting these standards.

Under this law, the Washington State Attorney General and local governments have authority to pursue false or misleading environmental claims about a plastic product's "compostability" and "biodegradability."

For more information contact:

 

Michelle Andrews
michelle.andrews@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6113