A law aimed at single-use plastics in lodging establishments will reduce unnecessary packaging in Washington. Plastic containers under 6 ounces for personal care and beauty products like shampoo, conditioner, soap, body gel, lotion, and hand sanitizer are restricted from use at lodging establishments in Washington starting January 2027 and January 2028.
This law aims to reduce single-use plastic packaging pollution and require that customers take only what they need or want.
Reusable alternative containers and dispensers are available and already widely used at lodging establishments. This law helps businesses preventing unnecessary waste and pollution associated with single-use plastic.
This law allows lodging establishments to make the restricted products available upon request to customers if they choose.
This law has two effective dates depending on the size of the lodging establishment:
Jan. 1, 2027 – for any lodging establishment with 50 or more units
Jan. 1, 2028 – for any lodging establishment with less than 50 units
The problem with single-use plastic toiletries
Mini personal care product containers have been widely provided in the hospitality industry since the 1960s, but these small plastic containers are environmentally problematic.
Unused products and single-use plastic have a significant environmental footprint both in creation and in the disposal of these materials.
Bottles and containers of products like shampoo, conditioner, or lotion are often only partially used and for a brief amount of time before getting tossed in the garbage.
Unlike large plastic bottles, mini plastic bottles and tubes are not accepted in recycling programs because they're too small for recycling machinery to sort.
Plastic containers are resistant to breaking down in landfills or when they’re littered in the environment. This causes them to last many years and can result in them releasing micro and nano plastics into our ecosystems which harm water quality, animals, and human health.
Refillable dispenser pump bottles help reduce plastic waste, prevent throwing away countless half-filled mini containers, and overall save businesses money. Some chain hotels have already made the switch, including InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Marriott, and Hyatt Hotels. California, New York, and Illinois also have similar laws.
Frequently asked questions
"Lodging establishment" means an establishment that contains one or more sleeping room accommodations that are rented or otherwise provided to the public including, but not limited to, a hotel, motel, resort, bed and breakfast, inn, timeshare property, short-term rental, or vacation rental.
"Lodging establishment" does not include a hospital, nursing home, residential retirement community, prison, jail, homeless shelter, boarding school, worker housing, or long-term rental.
"Personal care or beauty product" means: Shampoo, hair conditioner, bath soap, body wash, or shower gel, lotion, hand soap, and hand sanitizer.
Hand sanitizer
Shampoo/conditioner
Lotion
Soap
Body wash and shower gel
Any plastic packaging for personal care or beauty products under 6 ounces in lodging establishments is restricted under this law. This includes packaging that has other material types in combination with plastic like paper wrappers or metal foil pouches.
There are several options for alternatives that lodging establishments can choose instead of providing single-use mini toiletries:
We encourage businesses to update guest rooms with reuseable and durable containers that can be refilled with personal care products. This is the most environmentally preferred alternative and could save costs for properties by reducing waste volume and preventing usable products from being thrown away.
Encourage guests to bring personal care products with them. Update property’s website and outreach to educate guests on new policies and offer benefits or rewards for guests who bring their own supplies.
No, there are no exemptions under this law for specific rooms or types of lodging establishments. However, please keep in mind that commercial and public lodging establishments must comply with 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
For more information and technical assistance, please contact ta@access-board.gov.
Yes, the law allows businesses to provide the restricted items if a guest requests them.
Businesses can use a variety of ways to ensure that the products are being given “on request” to a guest. Some examples include:
Having guests verbally, in writing, or other physical methods request items from hotel staff
Adding these restricted items to the hotel’s list of available items that can be provided upon request
Requiring guests to manually select an option during check-in or booking that shows they want the restricted materials provided to them. This cannot be an option that is automatically selected for the guest, but rather an option left unselected that the guest would have to manually select to confirm their request of the items. An example of this method is the request for single-use utensils when ordering food through an online or mobile service.
As this law’s implementation date isn’t until Jan. 1, 2027, and Jan. 1, 2028, we encourage businesses to use their existing stocks and find reusable alternatives that work best for them sooner than the implementation date. This will allow businesses to work out any concerns they have in the transition well before the law comes into effect.
We will respond to non-compliant lodging establishments with education, resources, and technical assistance. Though we intend to aid businesses in complying with this law whenever possible, repeat and continuous non-compliance may result in a fine up to $500 each day the business is in violation.
