Washington's recycling system could get a major makeover

Axios

01-04-2025

Washington state lawmakers are considering a major overhaul of the state's recycling system, which would be paid for largely by companies that make single-use packaging.
Why it matters: Besides establishing a consistent statewide list for what's recyclable and what's not, Senate Bill 5284 would ensure that when people throw recycling in their curbside bins, the materials have somewhere to go, supporters say.
That could prevent situations like what Seattle experienced last year, when the closure of a major glass bottle manufacturing plant disrupted glass recycling throughout Western Washington.
The big picture: Access to recycling services in Washington is spotty, with different jurisdictions accepting different items, and 11 counties having no curbside recycling at all, the state Ecology Department says.
A measure like Senate Bill 5284, which would make private companies bankroll a system for recycling their products, could help boost Washington's residential recycling rate from 40% to 66%, a 2023 report found.
State of play: The bill, which passed the state Senate last month and cleared a House committee on Monday, would require a producer-funded recycling system to be up and running in Washington by 2030.
Zoom in: Seattle officials are supporting the legislation, after the city was forced to change its glass recycling practices last year when the Ardagh Glass Manufacturing plant in south Seattle closed.
Seattle's recycled glass is now crushed and used as roadbed at a landfill in Klickitat County, instead of being remade into wine bottles.
What's inside: Under the proposed bill, producers of glass packaging "would need to pay for 90% of the costs of collection, transportation and sorting of glass," Brad Wong, a spokesperson for Seattle Public Utilities, told Axios.
The bill also would apply to paper packaging and many types of plastic.
The other side: Groups opposing the measure include solid waste handling companies and the Washington Retail Association, which said the bill will lead to higher costs.
"We are certain these additional costs will be passed down to consumers, further exacerbating the rising cost of groceries," Katie Beeson of the Washington Retail Association testified during a House committee hearing last month.
Between the lines: Growing concern over tiny plastic particles — commonly called microplastics — accumulating in food, water and our bodies is helping drive the recycling reform effort.
"Simply put, we are drowning in plastic," Peter Steelquist of Surfrider Foundation, an environmental nonprofit, testified during last month's House committee hearing.
"We need to turn off the tap — we need to cut plastic packaging at the source."
The fine print: The bill would also encourage companies to make easier-to-recycle packaging, Heather Trim, executive director of Zero Waste Washington, told Axios.
Basically, "if you produce things that are harder to recycle, you're going to pay more," Trim said.
Hard-to-recycle items can include multilayered bags made of multiple types of resin and foil.
What's next: The full state House would need to approve the measure before it could become law.