The final consultant report on recommendations to manage plastic packaging waste is now available. The independent recommendations report follows a series of background reports released earlier this year on the problem and solutions available to address Washington’s plastic packaging waste. These are the most comprehensive reports on the topic—specifically for Washington—since the 1990’s.

The final recommendations report, multiple background reports, and a description of the stakeholder process are posted on the Department of Ecology’s website.

In 2019, the Legislature passed a law initiating this study. The law directed Ecology to hire an independent third-party contractor to conduct a study of the impacts of plastic packaging in Washington and to develop management recommendations. The report and recommendations were due to the Legislature by October 31, 2020; however, they have not yet been submitted. To see a copy of Ecology’s recommendations to the Legislature once submitted, sign up for the listserv.