Recycling Reform Act Advisory Council

Apply for a position on the advisory council 

We are currently accepting applications to serve on the Recycling Reform Act advisory council. If you or someone you know is interested in applying, please complete or share the advisory board application. After downloading and completing the application, email it to us at recyclingreform@ecy.wa.gov.

This application period is open from Sept. 9 – Oct. 6, 2025. We will identify the council members by Dec. 1, 2025.  

Advisory council appointment and membership terms  

We will appoint voting members to the advisory council representing manufacturers and retailers of covered packaging products, the recycling industry, service providers, processors or material end-users, local governments, statewide environmental nonprofit organizations, community-based environmental justice organizations and producers of reuseable/refillable packaging products. We will also appoint two non-voting members, one representing Ecology and one representing the PRO. 

The law prohibits state legislators, registered lobbyists, and employees of producers required to be members of the PRO from serving on the advisory council. 

Members serve for a term of four years. Nine initial members will be appointed for terms two years so that membership terms are staggered. Members may be reappointed but may not serve more than eight consecutive years.  

We anticipate the advisory council will meet at least quarterly for the first several years of the program before transitioning to semi-annual meetings. Meetings will be held remotely and will be open to the public. We will hire a third-party consultant to facilitate the meetings. 

The equity subcommittee 

We will also appoint six members to an equity subcommittee to the advisory council. The equity subcommittee will represent overburdened communities or socially vulnerable populations including a small, medium, and large community in eastern Washington.   

The equity subcommittee will be responsible for informing and making recommendations to the advisory council, Ecology, and the PRO regarding the impacts of the Recycling Reform Act activities on socially vulnerable populations and overburdened communities.  

Members of the equity subcommittee will be selected by Ecology in consultation with the Commission on African American Affairs, the Commission on Hispanic Affairs, the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, the LGBTQ Commission, and the Women's Commission.

Compensation and reimbursement 

Advisory council members representing Tribes, Tribal or indigenous services organizations, community-based organizations, or environmental nonprofit organizations may be compensated and reimbursed for their participation. Compensation may include reimbursement for mileage, subsistence and lodging, and a stipend to support their participation. 

Advisory council duties and responsibilities 

Advisory council members have several duties and responsibilities following their appointment:

• Meet at least twice per year  
• Serve for a staggered four-year term, with reappointment potential  
• Comply with the open public meetings act: Elect a chair and vice chair of the advisory council at its initial meeting and every two years, thereafter  
• Consult with Ecology on the development of statewide collection lists 
• Consult with Ecology, provide initial recommendations, and review any needs assessment or update within 90 days of receipt of the assessment  
• Review draft PRO plans or amendments and offer written comments within 60 days of receiving a draft plan  
• Consult with the PRO in administering the reuse financial assistance program
• Consider recommendations of the equity subcommittee regarding the impacts of program activities on socially vulnerable populations and overburdened communities  
• Review and provide recommendations on proposed statewide performance target requirements  
• Review and provide recommendations on submitted PRO annual reports  

In addition, advisory council members are expected to commit to attending meetings and contributing to work products outside of meeting times. After missing three consecutive meetings a member may be removed from the advisory council.