2023 session legislation

The 2023 legislative session passed bills addressing compostable product usage, plastic pollution reduction, product stewardship for batteries, a solid waste study for Spokane, and more.

House Bill 1033: Evaluating compostable product usage in Washington

HB 1033 required that we create a legislatively outlined advisory group and hire a facilitator to review and discuss issues associated with the sales, use, and end-of-life uses for compostable products with a particular emphasis on food related compostable products. Cascadia Consulting Group was hired as the lead facilitator. The Advisory Committee has been meeting since October 2023 and is on target to deliver a final report with advisory group recommendations to the legislature by Sept. 15, 2024. All meeting agendas, note and research related to this work can be found here.

More information:

Cullen Naumoff
cullen.naumoff@ecy.wa.gov
564-233-1419

House Bill 1085: Reducing plastic pollution

HB 1085 requires that we oversee new restrictions on single-use health and beauty products provided to guests by lodging establishments. This bill also restricts the installation of overwater plastic foam structures, such as floating boat docks, blocks, and floats. To support these restrictions, the bill requires the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to conduct a study of sustainable alternatives to these types of floating structures. Finally, this bill requires certain public buildings to install bottle filling stations to reduce waste from single-use plastic bottles. We will provide assistance to state agencies and lodging establishments by coordinating education, outreach, and compliance for the new requirements.

More information:

Carolyn Bowie - Western Washington, Foam Docks and Blocks Law
carolyn.bowie@ecy.wa.gov
425-698-3722

Shannon Jones - Plastics Lead
shannon.jones@ecy.wa.gov
360-742-9874

Senate Bill 5144: Environmental management of batteries

SB 5144 requires battery producers to create a statewide collection system for portable used batteries by January 1, 2027. It phases in medium-sized batteries in 2029 and requires a study that will address the management of large format batteries and products with embedded batteries. The bill requires a battery stewardship organization to submit a plan to Ecology by July 1, 2026, describing how the program will operate, including: producers participating, transporters, processors, and disposal facilities to be used, how the program will be funded, performance goals, consumer outreach, and safety procedures. Ecology announced rule making for this program in March 2024.

The bill also required us to research the management of electric vehicle batteries and provide recommendations to the Legislature via a preliminary report in November 2023, and a final report in April 2024. A final copy of the report can be accessed here.

More information:

Megan Warfield
megan.warfield@ecy.wa.gov
360-701-9683

Senate Bill 5187, Sec. 302(43) Spokane solid waste study

SB 5187 directed us to contract with a consultant to conduct a full emissions life cycle assessment for solid waste processed at the Spokane Waste to Energy Facility (WTEF) compared to solid waste processed at three landfills within the region that waste may be sent to if the WTEF were to cease operations. A report was due to the legislature by Dec. 31, 2023.
The final report and appendix were submitted on December 14, 2023, and Ecology submitted them to the legislature March 2024. Please see publication numbers 23-07-063 and 23-07-064.

More information:

Marni Solheim
marni.solheim@ecy.wa.gov
509-385-9142

Senate Bill 5187, Sec. 302(20) Recycling, reuse, and source reduction target study and community input process

SB 5187 directs us to contract for a consultant to conduct a recycling, reuse, and source reduction performance target study. That study analyzed reduction actions for plastic components in packaging. The study recommended highest achievable recycling, reuse, and source reduction performance rates for Washington State for four policy scenarios, including extended producer responsibility. The consultant conducted a community input process collecting public opinion regarding the current recycling system and ways the current system could be improved. The consultant submitted the report to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate on Dec. 1, 2023.

• Washington Recycle, Reuse, and Source Reduction Target Study and Community Input Process

More information:

Kara Steward
kara.steward@ecy.wa.gov
564-999-0555