State Solid Waste Management Plan
The State Solid Waste Management Plan guides the management of waste and materials in Washington and aids local governments as they develop local solid waste management plans. This plan advances the state's waste management hierarchy, established in the solid waste statutes; that waste reduction is the highest priority, followed by recycling, energy recovery, and then safe disposal (RCW 70A.205.005).
The State Solid Waste Management Plan promotes a sustainable materials management approach. This method looks at the full life cycle of materials through multiple phases, from the design and manufacturing, through use, and finally to the end-of-life phase when the material is either reused, recycled, or disposed.
State plan split into two separate plans
The last plan was combined with the State Hazardous Waste Management Plan and was published in 2021 as the State Solid and Hazardous Waste Plan. We have updated this plan several times over the decades. This next update will result in two separate plans: one for solid waste and one for hazardous waste.
The State Solid Waste Management Plan update process:
- Survey interested parties to receive feedback on plan needs. Closed Sept. 10, 2026.
- Public review and comment opportunity.
- Consider comments.
- Complete and publish the State Plan in 2027.
Earlier published versions of the plan include:
Related links
Contact information
Julie Robertson
Solid Waste Management senior policy analyst
SWMStatePlan@ecy.wa.gov
360-763-2728
For information about the State Hazardous Waste Management Plan contact Amy Correa, State Hazardous Waste Management Plan Project Lead at HWStatePlan@ecy.wa.gov.