Washington legislature passes EPR bill

After passing in the Washington House of Representatives on April 14 with amendments, the extended producer responsibility bill known as the Recycling Reform Act, or S.B. 5284, passed in the state’s Senate on April 23. Washington joins Maine, Oregon, California, Colorado, Maryland and Minnesota in passing EPR legislation.

The Recycling Reform Act, if signed by the governor, would create a producer responsibility organization (PRO) that requires manufacturers and consumer brands to reduce unnecessary packaging, fund statewide collection services and ensure materials put in curbside bins are recycled. Under the legislation, packaging producers would be responsible for much of the costs of collecting recyclables, and residents will see a 90 percent reduction in their household recycling bills by 2032.

A PRO is responsible for paying fees to Department of Ecology; establishing the producer fee schedule; submitting the program plan to Ecology; program implementation; and reporting, compliance, accounting and other functions associated with program administration.

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