Modernizing Washington's litter tax

We invite you to comment on agency request legislation to update Washington's litter tax to include construction debris and motorvehicle debris, beginning in 2028. This comment period willbe open from July 8, 2025 – Aug. 8, 2025. 

We are considering legislation to modernize Washington’s litter tax to better reflect the types of litter found today.

The tax, established in 1971, applies to 13 product categories still commonly found in litter, like food packaging and cigarettes. A 2022 study found that nearly half of the state’s litter by weight comes from materials not currently covered by the litter tax—including construction materials and motor vehicle products. These materials are among the fastest-accumulating types of litter in Washington. Updating the tax to include these two product categories would help better align it with today’s litter challenges and provide the funding needed to address this growing problem.

We are also considering updating RCW 70A.200.020 and RCW 70A.200.140 to remove language regarding the “employment of youth,” to align the statute with modern program operations, which include year-round staffing of adult crews.