Washington moves closer to producer-funded recycling system

The Evergreen State is known for its pristine environment. But every day, plastic trashes our parks, litters our streets, and washes into our rivers and oceans where it can harm wildlife.

While we hope for a future where plastic isn’t contaminating our environment for thousands of years, recycling is the next best way to deal with all of this waste. But in Washington, more than 50% of consumer packaging and paper products are landfilled or incinerated, wasting an extraordinary amount of material that could have been recycled. 

Sponsored by Rep. Liz Berry and Sen. Liz Lovelett, the Recycling Reform Act HB 1150/SB 5284 will expand recycling access across the state, reduce recycling confusion by creating one list of what can and can’t be recycled across the state, and improve recycling outcomes by making companies that make decisions about packaging financially responsible for the end of life costs of those materials.

The bill had a lot of movement in the legislative session last week. It was successfully passed out of the House Environment & Energy committee on Tuesday, February 11th, by a vote of 12-7. On Friday the 14th, it passed out of the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology committee. 

Before it can go up for a full Floor vote, the Recycling Reform Act needs to pass through the House Appropriations and Senate Ways & Means committees.

It is critical that legislators see strong support for producer-funded recycling from Washingtonians. The bill is being heard in the House Appropriations committee, on Saturday, February 22, at 9:00 am. Please sign in PRO for HB 1150 to show your support by going to this link.

You can also give your legislator a call today to ask them to support the Recycling Reform Act!

How To Call Your Legislators

The best way to contact your legislators is to call the legislative hotline: 1-800-562-6000, which operates from 8 am to 7 pm M-F. The operator will ask for your zip code and the message you would like to leave for your legislator.

Sample Calling Script

My name is XXXX XXXX and I live in [town]. I’m calling to ask for your support in establishing a producer responsibility program in Washington to reduce the growing amount of plastic and other hard-to-manage packaging and improve recycling here in Washington. Please support the Recycling Reform Act, House Bill 1150 / Senate Bill 5284. Thank you!