In 2022, the Washington State Legislature passed the Organics Management Law. This law requires diversion of organic materials away from landfill disposal and towards food rescue programs and organics management facilities.
The following actions are the foundation for driving Washington toward its goal of reducing organic material in the landfill by 75% by 2030.
Washington’s new organics management law requires state and local governments, businesses, and other organizations to reduce the amount of organic materials disposed in landfills and increase the demand for processed organic materials like compost. This legislation creates opportunities for food waste prevention and edible food waste recovery.
70A.205.545
This section establishes a phased approach to collect source-separated organics from businesses.
Specific details about the Business Organics Management Areas are outlined on the BOMA webpage.
Compost Procurement Ordinance (CPOs) are a tool to strengthen markets for the additional compost as organics collection programs expand.
Under RCW 43.19A.150, the deadline for those jurisdictions that meet certain criteria to adopt a CPO was Jan. 1, 2023. If your jurisdiction has adopted a CPO, upload it to this Box Portal.
Cities and counties required to adopt a CPO must report to us every two years. The first report is due by Dec. 31, 2024. After that, reports are due on December 31, every two years. The first report should include the available data for 2023 and 2024.
We expect to launch a portal by July 1, 2024 for submitting CPO reports.
70A.207.020
This section establishes the Washington Center for Sustainable Food Management to coordinate statewide food waste reduction. Recommended by the Use Food Well Washington Plan, the Center will work to meet statewide food waste and recovery goals. The Center is will launch January 2024.
We must coordinate with the Washington Department of Agriculture to establish compatible and voluntary reporting protocols to track food donations, which support the goals of the Center. This work will be prioritized through improving data and tracking when the Washington Center for Sustainable Food Management launches in January 2024.
By Jan. 1, 2025, we must research and adopt model ordinances for use by counties and cities and provide model mechanisms for commercial solid waste collection and disposal.
These model ordinances are designed to establish a financial disincentive or other disincentives, for organic waste generation and disposal in landfills. Model ordinances must be designed to provide options preferred by jurisdictions of different sizes and consider other key criteria applicable to local circumstances.
After July 1, 2024, new and updated local comprehensive solid waste management plans must address the new requirement to provide organic materials collection and management to residential and nonresidential customers. This includes siting new organic management facilities.
After Jan. 1, 2025, county comprehensive plans must allow siting of organics management facilities to provide necessary capacity for organics collection.
After Jan. 1, 2027, new and updated comprehensive plans must be consistent with requirements of Section 102.
By Jan. 1, 2024 producers of compostable products must meet specific requirements for degradability and labeling, as defined by RCW 70A.455. These requirements apply to three major categories of compostable plastic products:
film bags
plastic food service products
film products.
All compostable products sold in the Washington State must:
Meet ASTM Standard Specifications D6400 or D6868, or be comprised of wood.
Clearly display a logo of a recognized third party verification body.
Display the word “compostable.”
Use green, beige or brown labeling, color striping to help differentiate compostable products from non-compostable products.
