SB 5284 will be heard and considered in the House Appropriation Committee as the fiscal committee cut-off looms. This bill should be a slam dunk for lawmakers.
As the Legislature grapples with trying to balance significant budget cuts and new revenue sources all while trying to address the state’s regressive tax system and make important policy head roads, the Recycling Reform Act, SB 5284 is a win-win. Here’s why:
- No taxes and no state coffer impacts. State agency impacts are offset by fees paid by packaging producers—most of which are billion-dollar global companies (Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, Unilever, Coca-Cola, etc.).
- Addresses a longstanding—and studied—change to modernize our residential recycling system. The Legislature has funded several studies that point to this policy as the solution for our state’s flatlined and inequitable recycling system. This is a balanced and comprehensive change that will be implemented over five years with transparency and public input.
- Provides direct cost savings to ratepayers, while also delivering equity and a higher service level. Those without curbside access will have it—even if they live in an apartment or in rural areas (or both). Cities and their ratepayers will see a 90% cost savings in collection services by 2032. As for a higher receipt at the grocery store? In a study commissioned by the state of Oregon, no significant difference in prices was found between Canadian provinces with this policy in place and those without.
Although lawmakers have many difficult decisions to make between now and sine die, this should be an easy one—and one worth celebrating.
Dates to remember
SB 5284 will be heard in the House Appropriation Committee on Saturday, April 5 at 9 am and is scheduled for a vote in the same committee on Monday, April 7 at 1:30 pm.
Recycling Reform Act bills pass the first hurdle
February 21, 2025
Each companion bill passed out of its policy committee ahead of the cutoff and is on track to do the same in its fiscal committee.
Both HB 1150 and SB 5284 were amended in their policy committee. The key change for cities is that producers will phase in reimbursement and will not fully fund the collection and processing costs – but very close. Here is the new language on service provider reimbursement:
- No less than 50% of net costs by February 15, 2030;
- No less than 75% of net costs by February 15, 2031; and
- No less than 90% of net costs by February 15, 2032.
Although our residents will still fund 10% of the cost to provide services through rates in 2032 and beyond, they fund 100% now. We understand that compromise is essential to get any proposal across the finish line and this is the compromise made in Minnesota that achieved that result. AWC continues to support this bill and asks that you reach out to your legislators to do the same.
Date to remember
HB 1150 is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Appropriations Committee on Saturday, February 22 at 9 am and a committee vote on Wednesday, February 26 at 1:30 pm.
SB 5284 is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Monday, February 24 at 1:30 pm and a committee vote on Thursday, February 27 at 1:30 pm.
AWC testifies in support of producer responsibility for packaging bill
February 3, 2025
Watch AWC Government Relations Deputy Director Carl Schroeder testify in support of HB 1150 before the House Environment & Energy Committee. This bill creates an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system to improve residential recycling access, increase recycling rates, and require financial accountability by producers of paper and packaging—an approach that residents support, based on recent polling.
Senate also focused producer responsibility for packaging
January 24, 2025
The companion bill to HB 1150 is SB 5284, sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett (D–Anacortes), and will receive a committee hearing on January 28. While the House was hearing HB 1150, the Senate Committee had a comprehensive and informative work session on the state of recycling nationally, in Washington, and on the policy of extended producer responsibility. If you are new to these issues, it’s a great overview:
Date to remember
SB 5284 will be heard in the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee on Tuesday, January 28 at 1:30 pm.
Producer responsibility for packaging—will Washington finally modernize?
January 17, 2024
For the avid readers out there the term “producer responsibility” will sound familiar. It’s a public policy approach that puts those who create and send products and packaging into our state to be financially responsible for the waste it creates. The time to enact this into law is now.
HB 1150 is the latest version of this approach for managing paper and packaging, essentially all the stuff you put in your residential recycling cart every week. Sponsored by Rep. Liz Berry (D–Seattle) who has worked tirelessly over the years – yes, years – to address stakeholder concerns to bring this much needed recycling reform to our state.
The bill, referred to as The Recycling Reform Act, is modeled after the law that passed in Minnesota with support across all stakeholder groups – local government, state, producers, and yes, even the solid waste collection companies. Here’s what the bill will do in a nutshell:
- Establishes a statewide residential recycling list
- Expands curbside recycling to all households that have garbage service
- Service providers are reimbursed for collection services
- Creates performance targets for reuse, recycling, compost, and plastic reduction
For nice visual summaries, check out these resources and share them with your legislators!
Date to remember
HB 1150 will be heard in the House Environment & Energy Committee on Tuesday, January 21 at 4 pm