The legislature finds that landfills are a significant source of emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Among other economic and environmental benefits, the diversion of organic materials to productive uses will reduce methane emissions.
In order to reduce methane emissions associated with organic materials, the legislature finds that it will be beneficial to improve a variety of aspects of how organic materials are reduced, managed, incentivized, and regulated under state law. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to support the diversion of organic materials from landfills through a variety of interventions to support productive uses of organic material wastes, including by:
Requiring some local governments to begin providing separated organic material collection services within their jurisdictions in order to increase volumes of organic materials collected and delivered to composting and other organic material management facilities and reduce the volumes of organic materials collected in conjunction with other solid waste and delivered to landfills;
Requiring local governments to consider state organic material management goals and requirements in the development of their local solid waste plans;
Requiring some businesses to manage their organic material wastes in a manner that does not involve landfilling them, in order to address one significant source of organic materials that currently frequently end up in landfills;
Reducing legal liability risk barriers to the donation of edible food in order to encourage the recovery of foods that might otherwise be landfilled;
Establishing the Washington center for sustainable food management within the department of ecology in order to coordinate and improve statewide food waste reduction and diversion efforts;
Establishing various new funding and financial incentives intended to increase composting and other forms of productive organic materials management, helping to make the responsible management of organic materials more cost-competitive with landfilling of organic material wastes;
Facilitating the siting of organic material management facilities in order to ensure that adequate capacity exists to process organic materials at the volumes necessary to achieve state organic material diversion goals;
Requiring local governments to procure more of the compost and finished products created from their organic material wastes in order to support the economic viability of processes to turn organic materials into finished products, and increasing the likelihood that composting and other responsible organic material management options are economically viable; and
Amending standards related to the labeling of plastic and compostable products in order to reduce contamination of the waste streams handled by compost and organic material management facilities and improve the economic viability of those responsible organic material management options.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 70A.205. Here is the modified chapter for context.
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The state establishes a goal for the landfill disposal of organic materials at a level representing a 75 percent reduction by 2030 in the statewide disposal of organic material waste, relative to 2015 levels.
The state establishes a goal that no less than 20 percent of the volume of edible food that was disposed of as of 2015 be recovered for human consumption by 2025.
The provisions of subsection (1) of this section are in addition to the food waste reduction goals of RCW 70A.205.715(1).
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 70A.205. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Beginning January 1, 2027, each jurisdiction that implements a local solid waste plan under RCW 70A.205.040 must:
Provide within the jurisdiction weekly organic solid waste collection services to all residents and to businesses that generate more than .25 cubic yard per week of organic materials for management; and
Provide for the organic materials management of all organic solid waste collected from residents and businesses under (a) of this subsection.
A jurisdiction may charge and collect fees or rates for the services provided under subsection (1) of this section, consistent with the jurisdiction's authority to impose fees and rates under chapters 35.21, 35A.21, 36.58, and 36.58A RCW.
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Except as provided in (d) of this subsection, the requirements of this section do not apply in a jurisdiction if the department determines that the following apply:
The jurisdiction disposed of less than 5,000 tons of solid waste in the most recent year for which data is available; or
The jurisdiction has a total population of less than 25,000 people.
The requirements of this section do not apply:
In census tracts that have a population density of less than 75 people per square mile that are serviced by the jurisdiction and located in unincorporated portions of a county, as determined by the department, in counties not planning under chapter 36.70A RCW; and
Outside of urban growth areas designated pursuant to RCW 36.70A.110 in unincorporated portions of a county planning under chapter 36.70A RCW.
In addition to the exemptions in (a) and (b) of this subsection, the department may issue a waiver to jurisdictions or portions of a jurisdiction under this subsection for up to five years, based on consideration of factors including the distance to organic materials management facilities, the sufficiency of the capacity to manage organic materials at facilities to which organic materials could feasibly and economically be delivered from the jurisdiction, and restrictions in the transport of organic materials under chapter 17.24 RCW. The department may adopt rules to specify the type of information that a waiver applicant must submit to the department and to specify the department's process for reviewing and approving waiver applications.
Beginning January 1, 2030, the department may adopt a rule to require that the provisions of this section apply in the jurisdictions identified in (b) and (c) of this subsection, but only if the department determines that the goals established in section 101(1) of this act have not or will not be achieved.
This section modifies existing section 70A.205.040. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Each county within the state, in cooperation with the various cities located within such county, shall prepare a coordinated, comprehensive solid waste management plan. Such plan may cover two or more counties. The purpose is to plan for solid waste and materials reduction, collection, and handling and management services and programs throughout the state, as designed to meet the unique needs of each county and city in the state. When updating a solid waste management plan developed under this chapter, after June 10, 2010, local comprehensive plans must consider and plan for the following handling methods or services:
Source separation of recyclable materials and products, organic materials, and wastes by generators;
Collection of source separated materials;
Handling and proper preparation of materials for reuse or recycling;
Handling and proper preparation of organic materials for organic materials management; and
Handling and proper disposal of nonrecyclable wastes.
When updating a solid waste management plan developed under this chapter, after June 10, 2010, each local comprehensive plan must, at a minimum, consider methods that will be used to address the following:
Construction and demolition waste for recycling or reuse;
Organic material including yard debris, food waste, and food contaminated paper products for organic materials management;
Recoverable paper products for recycling;
Metals, glass, and plastics for recycling; and
Waste reduction strategies.
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When newly developing, updating, or amending a solid waste management plan developed under this chapter, after July 1, 2024, each local comprehensive plan must consider the transition to the requirements of section 102 of this act, and each comprehensive plan implemented by a county must identify:
The priority areas within the county for the establishment of organic materials management facilities. Priority areas must be in industrial zones and may not be located in overburdened communities identified by the department of health under chapter 70A.02 RCW; and
Organic materials management facility volumetric capacity required to manage the county's organic materials in a manner consistent with the goals of section 101 of this act.
When newly developing, updating, or amending a solid waste management plan developed under this chapter, after January 1, 2027, each local comprehensive plan must be consistent with the requirements of section 102 of this act.
Each city shall:
Prepare and deliver to the county auditor of the county in which it is located its plan for its own solid waste management for integration into the comprehensive county plan;
Enter into an agreement with the county pursuant to which the city shall participate in preparing a joint city-county plan for solid waste management; or
Authorize the county to prepare a plan for the city's solid waste management for inclusion in the comprehensive county plan.
Two or more cities may prepare a plan for inclusion in the county plan. With prior notification of its home county of its intent, a city in one county may enter into an agreement with a city in an adjoining county, or with an adjoining county, or both, to prepare a joint plan for solid waste management to become part of the comprehensive plan of both counties.
After consultation with representatives of the cities and counties, the department shall establish a schedule for the development of the comprehensive plans for solid waste management. In preparing such a schedule, the department shall take into account the probable cost of such plans to the cities and counties.
Local governments shall not be required to include a hazardous waste element in their solid waste management plans.
The department of ecology must work with the Washington association of county solid waste managers, the association of Washington cities, and other stakeholders to contract with a third-party consultant to conduct a study of the adequacy of local government solid waste management funding. The study must consider cities and counties and their differences, the funding needs to implement the solid waste core services model developed by the Washington association of county solid waste managers, and the impacts on solid waste funding resources utilized by cities and counties considering potential statewide solid waste management policy changes and develop options and recommendations for how to provide funding for solid waste programs in the future if major policy changes are enacted. The study must include a review and update of current funding types and levels available, jurisdictional types and sizes, and alternative funding models utilized by other publicly managed solid waste programs in other states or countries that may be relevant to Washington. When considering potential statewide solid waste management policy changes, the study must evaluate recent policy proposals considered or enacted in the last four years, including proposals to reduce the load of organic material waste to landfills, managing packaging and paper products through extended producer responsibility programs, other proposed product stewardship or extended producer responsibility programs, improving or installing new or updated methane capture systems, proposals to support emerging markets to maximize the financial and environmental benefits that can be derived from managing organic material wastes, increases in any postconsumer content requirements for materials typically collected in solid waste programs, and other proposals or actions which may either be related to or influence, or both, solid waste funding resources. The study must evaluate the impacts of the policy changes on existing revenues for local government solid waste management programs and forecast any changes in existing revenue levels, any need for additional revenues, and changes in the level of service provided by and the costs to local government solid waste management programs.
The department of ecology must submit a report of its findings and any recommendations to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2023.
This section modifies existing section 70A.205.015. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"City" means every incorporated city and town.
"Commission" means the utilities and transportation commission.
"Composted material" means organic solid waste that has been subjected to controlled aerobic degradation at a solid waste facility in compliance with the requirements of this chapter. Natural decay of organic solid waste under uncontrolled conditions does not result in composted material.
"Department" means the department of ecology.
"Director" means the director of the department of ecology.
"Disposal site" means the location where any final treatment, utilization, processing, or deposit of solid waste occurs.
"Energy recovery" means a process operating under federal and state environmental laws and regulations for converting solid waste into usable energy and for reducing the volume of solid waste.
"Functional standards" means criteria for solid waste handling expressed in terms of expected performance or solid waste handling functions.
"Incineration" means a process of reducing the volume of solid waste operating under federal and state environmental laws and regulations by use of an enclosed device using controlled flame combustion.
"Inert waste landfill" means a landfill that receives only inert waste, as determined under RCW 70A.205.030, and includes facilities that use inert wastes as a component of fill.
"Jurisdictional health department" means city, county, city-county, or district public health department.
"Landfill" means a disposal facility or part of a facility at which solid waste is placed in or on land and which is not a land treatment facility.
"Local government" means a city, town, or county.
"Modify" means to substantially change the design or operational plans including, but not limited to, removal of a design element previously set forth in a permit application or the addition of a disposal or processing activity that is not approved in the permit.
"Multiple-family residence" means any structure housing two or more dwelling units.
"Person" means individual, firm, association, copartnership, political subdivision, government agency, municipality, industry, public or private corporation, or any other entity whatsoever.
"Recyclable materials" means those solid wastes that are separated for recycling or reuse, such as papers, metals, and glass, that are identified as recyclable material pursuant to a local comprehensive solid waste plan. Prior to the adoption of the local comprehensive solid waste plan, adopted pursuant to RCW 70A.205.075(2), local governments may identify recyclable materials by ordinance from July 23, 1989.
"Recycling" means transforming or remanufacturing waste materials into usable or marketable materials for use other than landfill disposal or incineration.
"Residence" means the regular dwelling place of an individual or individuals.
"Sewage sludge" means a semisolid substance consisting of settled sewage solids combined with varying amounts of water and dissolved materials, generated from a wastewater treatment system, that does not meet the requirements of chapter 70A.226 RCW.
"Soil amendment" means any substance that is intended to improve the physical characteristics of the soil, except composted material, commercial fertilizers, agricultural liming agents, unmanipulated animal manures, unmanipulated vegetable manures, food wastes, food processing wastes, and materials exempted by rule of the department, such as biosolids as defined in chapter 70A.226 RCW and wastewater as regulated in chapter 90.48 RCW.
"Solid waste" or "wastes" means all putrescible and nonputrescible solid and semisolid wastes including, but not limited to, garbage, rubbish, ashes, industrial wastes, swill, sewage sludge, demolition and construction wastes, abandoned vehicles or parts thereof, and recyclable materials.
"Solid waste handling" means the management, storage, collection, transportation, treatment, utilization, processing, and final disposal of solid wastes, including the recovery and recycling of materials from solid wastes, the recovery of energy resources from solid wastes or the conversion of the energy in solid wastes to more useful forms or combinations thereof.
"Source separation" means the separation of different kinds of solid waste at the place where the waste originates.
"Vehicle" includes every device physically capable of being moved upon a public or private highway, road, street, or watercourse and in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public or private highway, road, street, or watercourse, except devices moved by human or animal power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
"Waste-derived soil amendment" means any soil amendment as defined in this chapter that is derived from solid waste as defined in this section, but does not include biosolids or biosolids products regulated under chapter 70A.226 RCW or wastewaters regulated under chapter 90.48 RCW.
"Waste reduction" means reducing the amount or toxicity of waste generated or reusing materials.
"Yard debris" means plant material commonly created in the course of maintaining yards and gardens, and through horticulture, gardening, landscaping, or similar activities. Yard debris includes but is not limited to grass clippings, leaves, branches, brush, weeds, flowers, roots, windfall fruit, vegetable garden debris, holiday trees, and tree prunings four inches or less in diameter.
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"Organic materials" means any solid waste that is a biological substance of plant or animal origin capable of microbial degradation.
Organic materials include, but are not limited to, manure, yard debris, food waste, food processing waste, wood waste, and garden waste.
"Organic materials" does not include any materials contaminated by herbicides, pesticides, pests, or other sources of chemical or biological contamination that would render a finished product of an organic material management process unsuitable for general public or agricultural use.
"Organic materials management" means management of organic materials through composting, anaerobic digestion, vermiculture, black soldier fly, or similar technologies.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 70A.205. Here is the modified chapter for context.
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Beginning July 1, 2023, and each July 1st thereafter, the department must determine which counties and any cities preparing independent solid waste management plans:
Provide for businesses to be serviced by providers that collect food waste and organic material waste for delivery to solid waste facilities that provide for the organic materials management of organic material waste and food waste; and
Are serviced by solid waste facilities that provide for the organic materials management of organic material waste and food waste and have capacity to accept increased volumes of organic materials deliveries.
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(A) No available businesses that collect and deliver organic materials to solid waste facilities that provide for the organic materials management of organic material waste and food waste; or
(B) No available capacity at the solid waste facilities to which businesses that collect and deliver organic materials could feasibly and economically deliver organic materials from the jurisdiction.
ii.(A) In the event that a county or city provides written notification indicating that the criteria of (b)(i)(A) of this subsection are met, then the restrictions of this section apply only in those portions of the jurisdiction that have available service-providing businesses.
(B) In the event that a county or city provides written notification indicating that the criteria of (b)(i)(B) of this subsection are met, then the restrictions of this section do not apply to the jurisdiction.
c. The department must make the result of the annual determinations required under this section available on its website.
d. The requirements of this section may be enforced by jurisdictional health departments consistent with this chapter, except that:
i. A jurisdictional health department may not charge a fee to permit holders to cover the costs of the jurisdictional health department's administration or enforcement of the requirements of this section; and
ii. Prior to issuing a penalty under this section, a jurisdictional health department must provide at least two written notices of noncompliance with the requirements of this section to the owner or operator of a business subject to the requirements of this section.
Wastes that are not managed on-site by the generating business, wastes generated from the growth and harvest of food or fiber that are managed off-site by another business engaged in the growth and harvest of food or fiber, and wastes generated in exceptional volumes as a result of a natural disaster or other infrequent and unpreventable event, do not count for purposes of determining waste volumes in (a) through (c) of this subsection.
Beginning January 1, 2024, a business that generates at least eight cubic yards of organic material waste per week must arrange for organic materials management services specifically for organic material waste;
Beginning January 1, 2025, a business that generates at least four cubic yards of organic material waste per week must arrange for organic materials management services specifically for organic material waste; and
Beginning January 1, 2026, a business that generates at least four cubic yards of solid waste per week shall arrange for organic materials management services specifically for organic material waste, unless the department determines, by rule, that additional reductions in the landfilling of organic materials would be more appropriately and effectively achieved, at reasonable cost to regulated businesses, through the establishment of a different volumetric threshold of solid waste or organic material waste than the threshold of four cubic yards of solid waste per week.
A business may fulfill the requirements of this section by:
Source separating organic material waste from other waste and subscribing to a service that includes organic material waste collection and organic materials management;
Managing its organic material waste on-site or self-haul its own organic material waste for organic materials management; or
Qualifying for exclusion from the requirements of this section consistent with subsection (1)(b) of this section.
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A business generating organic material waste shall arrange for the services required by this section in a manner that is consistent with state and local laws and requirements applicable to the collection, handling, or recycling of solid and organic material waste.
Nothing in this section requires a business to dispose of materials in a manner that conflicts with federal or state public health or safety requirements. Nothing in this section requires businesses to dispose of wastes generated in exceptional volumes as a result of a natural disaster or other infrequent and unpreventable event through the options established in subsection (3) of this section.
When arranging for gardening or landscaping services, the contract or work agreement between a business subject to this section and a gardening or landscaping service must require that the organic material waste generated by those services be managed in compliance with this chapter.
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This section does not limit the authority of a local governmental agency to adopt, implement, or enforce a local organic material waste recycling requirement, or a condition imposed upon a self-hauler, that is more stringent or comprehensive than the requirements of this chapter.
This section does not modify, limit, or abrogate in any manner any of the following:
A franchise granted or extended by a city, county, city and county, or other local governmental agency;
A contract, license, certificate, or permit to collect solid waste previously granted or extended by a city, county, city and county, or other local governmental agency;
The existing right of a business to sell or donate its organic materials; and
A certificate of convenience and necessity issued to a solid waste collection company under chapter 81.77 RCW.
Nothing in this section modifies, limits, or abrogates the authority of a local jurisdiction with respect to land use, zoning, or facility siting decisions by or within that local jurisdiction.
Nothing in this section changes or limits the authority of the Washington utilities and transportation commission to regulate collection of solid waste, including curbside collection of residential recyclable materials, nor does this section change or limit the authority of a city or town to provide the service itself or by contract under RCW 81.77.020.
The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
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"Business" means a commercial or public entity including, but not limited to, a firm, partnership, proprietorship, joint stock company, corporation, or association that is organized as a for-profit or nonprofit entity.
"Business" does not include a multifamily residential entity.
"Food waste" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 70A.205.715.
This section modifies existing section 69.80.031. Here is the modified chapter for context.
This section may be cited as the "good samaritan food donation act."
The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Apparently fit grocery product" means a grocery product that meets safety and safety-related labeling standards imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations even though the product may not be readily marketable due to appearance, age, freshness, grade, size, surplus, passage of a date on a date label other than a safety or safety-related labeling of a date, or other conditions.
"Apparently wholesome food" means food that meets safety and safety-related labeling standards imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations even though the food may not be readily marketable due to appearance, age, freshness, grade, size, surplus, passage of a date on a date label other than a safety or safety-related labeling of a date, or other conditions.
"Donate" means to give without requiring anything of monetary value from the recipient, except that the term shall include giving by a nonprofit organization to another nonprofit organization, notwithstanding that the donor organization has charged a nominal fee to the donee organization, if the ultimate recipient or user is not required to give anything of monetary value or is charged only a good samaritan reduced price.
"Food" means a raw, cooked, processed, or prepared edible substance, ice, beverage, or ingredient used or intended for use in whole or in part for human consumption.
"Gleaner" means a person who harvests for free distribution to the needy, or for donation to a nonprofit organization for ultimate distribution to the needy, an agricultural crop that has been donated by the owner.
"Good samaritan reduced price" means the price of an apparently wholesome food or an apparently fit grocery product that is an amount not greater than the cost of handling, administering, and distributing the apparently wholesome food or apparently fit grocery product.
"Grocery product" means a nonfood grocery product, including a disposable paper or plastic product, household cleaning product, laundry detergent, cleaning product, or miscellaneous household item.
"Gross negligence" means voluntary and conscious conduct by a person with knowledge, at the time of the conduct, that the conduct is likely to be harmful to the health or well-being of another person.
"Intentional misconduct" means conduct by a person with knowledge, at the time of the conduct, that the conduct is harmful to the health or well-being of another person.
"Nonprofit organization" means an incorporated or unincorporated entity that:
Is operating for religious, charitable, or educational purposes; and
Does not provide net earnings to, or operate in any other manner that inures to the benefit of, any officer, employee, or shareholder of the entity.
"Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, organization, association, or governmental entity, including a retail grocer, wholesaler, hotel, motel, manufacturer, restaurant, caterer, farmer, and nonprofit food distributor or hospital. In the case of a corporation, partnership, organization, association, or governmental entity, the term includes an officer, director, partner, deacon, trustee, councilmember, or other elected or appointed individual responsible for the governance of the entity.
"Qualified direct donor" means any person required to obtain a food establishment permit under chapter 246-215 WAC, as it existed as of January 1, 2022, including a retail grocer, wholesaler, agricultural producer, restaurant, caterer, school food authority, or institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.
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"Safety and safety-related labeling" means a marking intended to communicate information to a consumer related to a food product's safety. "Safety and safety-related labeling" includes any marking that federal or state law requires to be affixed to a food product including, but not limited to, markings placed on infant formula consistent with 21 C.F.R. Sec. 107.20, as that regulation existed as of January 1, 2021.
"Safety and safety-related labeling" does not include a pull date required to be placed on perishable packaged food under RCW 15.130.300 or a "best by," "best if used by," "use by," or "sell by" date or similarly phrased date intended to communicate information to a consumer regarding the freshness or quality of a food product.
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A person or gleaner is not subject to civil or criminal liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of apparently wholesome food or an apparently fit grocery product that the person or gleaner donates in good faith or sells at a good samaritan reduced price to a nonprofit organization for ultimate sale at a good samaritan reduced price, donation, or other distribution to needy individuals, except that this subsection does not apply to an injury to or death of an ultimate user or recipient of the food or grocery product that results from an act or omission of the donor constituting gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
A qualified direct donor may donate food directly to end recipients for consumption. A qualified direct donor is not subject to civil or criminal liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of apparently wholesome food or an apparently fit grocery product that the qualified direct donor donates in good faith or sells at a good samaritan reduced price to a needy individual. The donation of nonperishable food that is fit for human consumption, but that has exceeded the labeled shelf-life date recommended by the manufacturer, is an activity covered by the exclusion from civil or criminal liability under this section.
The donation of perishable food that is fit for human consumption, but that has exceeded the labeled shelf-life date recommended by the manufacturer, is an activity covered by the exclusion from civil or criminal liability under this section if the person that distributes the food to the end recipient makes a good faith evaluation that the food to be donated is wholesome.
A person who allows the collection or gleaning of donations on property owned or occupied by the person by gleaners, or paid or unpaid representatives of a nonprofit organization, for ultimate distribution to needy individuals is not subject to civil or criminal liability that arises due to the injury or death of the gleaner or representative, except that this subsection does not apply to an injury or death that results from an act or omission of the person constituting gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
If some or all of the donated food and grocery products do not meet safety and safety-related labeling standards imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations, the person or gleaner who donates the food and grocery products is not subject to civil or criminal liability in accordance with this section if the nonprofit organization or other end recipient that receives the donated food or grocery products:
Is informed by the donor of the distressed or defective condition of the donated food or grocery products;
Agrees to recondition the donated food or grocery products to comply with all the safety and safety-related labeling standards prior to distribution; and
Is knowledgeable of the standards to properly recondition the donated food or grocery product.
This section may not be construed to create liability.
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Center" means the Washington center for sustainable food management.
"Department" means the department of ecology.
"Organic material" has the same definition as provided in RCW 70A.205.015.
"Plan" means the use food well Washington plan developed under RCW 70A.205.715.
The Washington center for sustainable food management is established within the department, to begin operations by January 1, 2024.
The purpose of the center is to help coordinate statewide food waste reduction.
The center may perform the following activities:
Coordinate the implementation of the plan;
Draft plan updates and measure progress towards actions, strategies, and the statewide goals established in section 101 of this act and RCW 70A.205.715(1);
Maintain a website with current food waste reduction information and guidance for food service establishments, consumers, food processors, hunger relief organizations, and other sources of food waste;
Provide staff support to multistate food waste reduction initiatives in which the state is participating;
Maintain the consistency of the plan and other food waste reduction activities with the work of the Washington state conservation commission's food policy forum;
Facilitate and coordinate public-private and nonprofit partnerships focused on food waste reduction, including through voluntary working groups;
Collaborate with federal, state, and local government partners on food waste reduction initiatives;
Develop and maintain maps or lists of locations of the food systems of Washington that identify food flows, where waste occurs, and opportunities to prevent food waste;
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Collect and maintain data on food waste and wasted food in a manner that is generally consistent with the methods of collecting and maintaining such data used by federal agencies or in other jurisdictions, or both, to the greatest extent practicable;
Develop measurement methodologies and tools to uniformly track food donation data, food waste prevention data, and associated climate impacts resultant from food waste reduction efforts;
Research and develop emerging organic materials and food waste reduction markets;
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Develop and maintain statewide food waste reduction and food waste contamination reduction campaigns, in consultation with other state agencies and other stakeholders, including the development of waste prevention and food waste recovery promotional materials for distribution. These promotional materials may include online information, newsletters, bulletins, or handouts that inform food service establishment operators about the protections from civil and criminal liability under federal law and under RCW 69.80.031 when donating food; and
Develop guidance in support of distribution of promotional materials, including by:
(A) Local health officers, at no cost to regulated food service establishments, including as part of normal, routine inspections of food service establishments; and
(B) State agencies, including the department of health and the department of agriculture, in conjunction with their statutory roles and responsibilities in regulating, monitoring, and supporting safe food supply chains and systems;
l. Distribute and monitor grants dedicated to food waste prevention, rescue, and recovery; and
m. Research and provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to local governments in support of the adoption of solid waste ordinances or policies that establish a financial disincentive for the generation of organic waste and for the ultimate disposal of organic materials in landfills.
The department may enter into an interagency agreement with the department of health, the department of agriculture, or other state agencies as necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the center.
The department may adopt any rules necessary to implement and enforce this chapter including, but not limited to, measures for the center's performance.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 70A.205. Here is the modified chapter for context.
In order to obtain data as necessary to support the goals of the Washington center for sustainable food management created in section 402 of this act and to achieve the goals of RCW 70A.205.715(1), the department may establish a voluntary reporting protocol for the receipt of reports by businesses that donate food under RCW 69.80.031 and recipients of the donated food, and may encourage the use of this voluntary reporting protocol by the businesses and recipients. The department may also request that a donating business or recipient of donated food provide information to the department regarding the volumes, types, and timing of food managed by the donating facility or business, and food waste and wasted food generated by the donating facility or business. To the extent practicable, the department must seek to obtain information under this section in a manner compatible with any information reported to the department of agriculture under RCW 43.23.290, and in a manner that minimizes the reporting and information-provision burdens of donating businesses and recipients.
For the purposes of this subsection, "food waste" and "wasted food" have the same meaning as defined in RCW 70A.205.715.
This section modifies existing section 69.80.040. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The department of agriculture shall maintain an information and referral service for persons and organizations that have notified the department of their desire to participate in the food donation program under this chapter. The department must coordinate with the department of ecology to ensure that the information and referral service required under this section is implemented in a manner consistent with the activities of sections 402 and 403 of this act.
This section modifies existing section 89.08.615. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The commission shall develop a sustainable farms and fields grant program in consultation with the department of agriculture, Washington State University, and the United States department of agriculture natural resources conservation service.
As funding allows, the commission shall distribute funds, as appropriate, to conservation districts and other public entities to help implement the projects approved by the commission.
No more than 15 percent of the funds may be used by the commission to develop, or to consult or contract with private or public entities, such as universities or conservation districts, to develop:
An educational public awareness campaign and outreach about the sustainable farm and field program; or
The grant program, including the production of analytical tools, measurement estimation and verification methods, cost-benefit measurements, and public reporting methods.
No more than five percent of the funds may be used by the commission to cover the administrative costs of the program.
No more than 20 percent of the funds may be awarded to any single grant applicant.
Allowable uses of grant funds include:
Annual payments to enrolled participants for successfully delivered carbon storage or reduction;
Up-front payments for contracted carbon storage;
Down payments on equipment;
Purchases of equipment;
Purchase of seed, seedlings, spores, animal feed, and amendments;
Services to landowners, such as the development of site-specific conservation plans to increase soil organic levels or to increase usage of precision agricultural practices, or design and implementation of best management practices to reduce livestock emissions;
The purchase of compost spreading equipment, or financial assistance to farmers to purchase compost spreading equipment, for the annual use for at least three years of volumes of compost determined by the commission to be significant from materials composted at a site that is not owned or operated by the farmer;
Scientific studies to evaluate and quantify the greenhouse gas emissions avoided as a result of using crop residues as a biofuel feedstock or to identify management practices that increase the greenhouse gas emissions avoided as a result of using crop residues as a biofuel feedstock;
Efforts to support the farm use of anaerobic digester digestate, including scientific studies, education and outreach to farmers, and the purchase or lease of digestate spreading equipment; and
Other equipment purchases or financial assistance deemed appropriate by the commission to fulfill the intent of RCW 89.08.610 through 89.08.635.
Grant applications are eligible for costs associated with technical assistance.
Conservation districts and other public entities may apply for a single grant from the commission that serves multiple farmers.
Grant applicants may apply to share equipment purchased with grant funds. Applicants for equipment purchase grants issued under this grant program may be farm, ranch, or aquaculture operations coordinating as individual businesses or as formal cooperative ventures serving farm, ranch, or aquaculture operations. Conservation districts, separately or jointly, may also apply for grant funds to operate an equipment sharing program.
No contract for carbon storage or changes to management practices may exceed 25 years. Grant contracts that include up-front payments for future benefits must be conditioned to include penalties for default due to negligence on the part of the recipient.
The commission shall attempt to achieve a geographically fair distribution of funds across a broad group of crop types, soil management practices, and farm sizes.
Any applications involving state lands leased from the department of natural resources must include the department's approval.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 15.04. Here is the modified chapter for context.
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Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department must establish and implement a compost reimbursement program to reimburse farming operations in the state for purchasing and using compost products that were not generated by the farming operation, including transportation, spreading equipment, labor, fuel, and maintenance costs associated with spreading equipment. The grant reimbursements under the program begin July 1, 2023.
For the purposes of this program, "farming operation" means: A commercial agricultural, silvicultural, or aquacultural facility or pursuit, including the care and production of livestock and livestock products, poultry and poultry products, apiary products, and plant and animal production for nonfood uses; the planting, cultivating, harvesting, and processing of crops; and the farming or ranching of any plant or animal species in a controlled salt, brackish, or freshwater environment.
To be eligible to participate in the reimbursement program, a farming operation must complete an eligibility review with the department prior to transporting or applying any compost products for which reimbursement is sought under this section. The purpose of the review is for the department to ensure that the proposed transport and application of compost products is consistent with the department's agricultural pest control rules established under chapter 17.24 RCW. A farming operation must also verify that it will allow soil sampling to be conducted by the department upon request before compost application and until at least 10 years after the last grant funding is used by the farming operation, as necessary to establish a baseline of soil quality and carbon storage and for subsequent department evaluations to assist the department's reporting requirements under subsection (8) of this section.
The department must create a form for eligible farming operations to apply for cost reimbursement for costs from purchasing and using compost from facilities with solid waste handling permits, including transportation, equipment, spreading, and labor costs. All applications for cost reimbursement must be submitted on the form along with invoices, receipts, or other documentation acceptable to the department of the costs of purchasing and using compost products for which the applicant is requesting reimbursement, as well as a brief description of what each purchased item will be used for. The department may request that an applicant provide information to verify the source, size, sale weight, or amount of compost products purchased and the cost of transportation, equipment, spreading, and labor. The applicant must also declare that it is not seeking reimbursement for purchase or labor costs for:
Its own compost products; or
Compost products that it has transferred, or intends to transfer, to another individual or entity, whether or not for compensation.
A farming operation may submit only one application per fiscal year for purchases made and usage costs incurred during the fiscal year that begins on July 1st and ends on June 30th of each fiscal year in which the program is in effect. Applications for reimbursement must be filed before the end of the fiscal year in which purchases were made and usage costs incurred.
The department must distribute reimbursement funds, subject to the following limitations:
A farming operation is not eligible to receive reimbursement if the farming operation's application was not found eligible for reimbursement by the department prior to transport or use under subsection (2) of this section;
A farming operation is not eligible to receive reimbursement for more than 50 percent of the costs it incurs each fiscal year for the purchase and use of compost products, including transportation, equipment, spreading, and labor costs;
A farming operation is not eligible to receive more than $10,000 per fiscal year;
A farming operation is not eligible to receive reimbursement for its own compost products or compost products that it has transferred, or intends to transfer, to another individual or entity, whether or not for compensation; and
A farming operation is not eligible to receive reimbursement for compost products that were not purchased from a facility with a solid waste handling permit.
The applicant shall indemnify and hold harmless the state and its officers, agents, and employees from all claims arising out of or resulting from the compost products purchased that are subject to the compost reimbursement program under this section.
There is established within the department a compost reimbursement program manager position. The compost reimbursement program manager must possess knowledge and expertise in the area of program management necessary to carry out the duties of the position, which are to:
Facilitate the division and distribution of available costs for reimbursement; and
Manage the day-to-day coordination of the compost reimbursement program.
In compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the department must submit an annual report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by January 15th of each year of the program in which grants have been issued or completed. The report must include:
The amount of compost for which reimbursement was sought under the program;
The qualitative or quantitative effects of the program on soil quality and carbon storage; and
An evaluation of the benefits and costs to the state of expanding or furthering the strategies promoted in the program.
This section modifies existing section 43.155.020. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Board" means the public works board created in RCW 43.155.030.
"Capital facility plan" means a capital facility plan required by the growth management act under chapter 36.70A RCW or, for local governments not fully planning under the growth management act, a plan required by the public works board.
"Department" means the department of commerce.
"Financing guarantees" means the pledge of money in the public works assistance account, or money to be received by the public works assistance account, to the repayment of all or a portion of the principal of or interest on obligations issued by local governments to finance public works projects.
"Local governments" means cities, towns, counties, special purpose districts, and any other municipal corporations or quasi-municipal corporations in the state excluding school districts and port districts.
"Public works project" means a project of a local government for the planning, acquisition, construction, repair, reconstruction, replacement, rehabilitation, or improvement of streets and roads, bridges, water systems, or storm and sanitary sewage systems, lead remediation of drinking water systems, and solid waste facilities, including recycling facilities and composting and other organic materials management facilities. A planning project may include the compilation of biological, hydrological, or other data on a county, drainage basin, or region necessary to develop a base of information for a capital facility plan.
"Solid waste or recycling project" means remedial actions necessary to bring abandoned or closed landfills into compliance with regulatory requirements and the repair, restoration, and replacement of existing solid waste transfer, recycling facilities, and landfill projects limited to the opening of landfill cells that are in existing and permitted landfills.
"Technical assistance" means training and other services provided to local governments to: (a) Help such local governments plan, apply, and qualify for loans, grants, and financing guarantees from the board, and (b) help local governments improve their ability to plan for, finance, acquire, construct, repair, replace, rehabilitate, and maintain public facilities.
"Value planning" means a uniform approach to assist in decision making through systematic evaluation of potential alternatives to solving an identified problem.
This section modifies existing section 36.70.330. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The comprehensive plan shall consist of a map or maps, and descriptive text covering objectives, principles and standards used to develop it, and shall include each of the following elements:
A land use element which designates the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of land for agriculture, housing, commerce, industry, recreation, education, public buildings and lands, and other categories of public and private use of land, including a statement of the standards of population density and building intensity recommended for the various areas in the jurisdiction and estimates of future population growth in the area covered by the comprehensive plan, all correlated with the land use element of the comprehensive plan. The land use element shall also provide for protection of the quality and quantity of groundwater used for public water supplies and shall review drainage, flooding, and stormwater runoff in the area and nearby jurisdictions and provide guidance for corrective actions to mitigate or cleanse those discharges that pollute Puget Sound or waters entering Puget Sound**. Development regulations to implement comprehensive plans that are newly developed, updated, or amended after January 1, 2025, must allow for the siting of organic materials management facilities in the areas identified in RCW 70A.205.040(3)(a)(i) to the extent necessary to provide for the establishment of the organic materials management volumetric capacity identified under RCW 70A.205.040(3)(a)(ii)**;
A circulation element consisting of the general location, alignment and extent of major thoroughfares, major transportation routes, trunk utility lines, and major terminal facilities, all of which shall be correlated with the land use element of the comprehensive plan;
Any supporting maps, diagrams, charts, descriptive material and reports necessary to explain and supplement the above elements.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 36.70A. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Development regulations to implement comprehensive plans that are newly developed, updated, or amended after January 1, 2025, must allow for the siting of organic materials management facilities in the areas identified in RCW 70A.205.040(3)(a)(i) to the extent necessary to provide for the establishment of the organic materials management volumetric capacity identified under RCW 70A.205.040(3)(a)(ii).
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 35.63. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Development regulations to implement comprehensive plans under RCW 35.63.100 that are newly developed, updated, or amended after January 1, 2025, must allow for the siting of organic materials management facilities in the areas identified by the county in which the city is located under RCW 70A.205.040(3)(a)(i) to the extent necessary to provide for the establishment of the organic materials management volumetric capacity identified under RCW 70A.205.040(3)(a)(ii).
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 35A.63. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Development regulations to implement comprehensive plans required under RCW 35A.63.060 that are newly developed, updated, or amended after January 1, 2025, must allow for the siting of organic materials management facilities in the areas identified by the county in which the city is located under RCW 70A.205.040(3)(a)(i) to the extent necessary to provide for the establishment of the organic materials management volumetric capacity identified under RCW 70A.205.040(3)(a)(ii).
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 43.19A. Here is the modified chapter for context.
By January 1, 2023, each local government with a population greater than 10,000 residents as measured by the office of financial management using the most recent population data available, shall adopt a compost procurement ordinance to implement RCW 43.19A.120. In developing a compost procurement ordinance, each local government shall plan for the use of compost in the following categories:
Landscaping projects;
Construction and postconstruction soil amendments;
Applications to prevent erosion, filter stormwater runoff, promote vegetation growth, or improve the stability and longevity of roadways; and
Low-impact development and green infrastructure to filter pollutants or keep water on-site, or both.
A local government that newly exceeds a population of 10,000 residents after January 1, 2023, as measured by the office of financial management, must adopt an ordinance under this subsection no later than 12 months after the office of financial management's determination that the local government's population has exceeded 10,000.
Each local government that adopts an ordinance under subsection (1) or (2) of this section must develop strategies to inform residents about the value of compost and how the jurisdiction uses compost in its operations in the jurisdiction's comprehensive solid waste management plan pursuant to RCW 70A.205.045.
By December 31, 2024, and each December 31st of even-numbered years thereafter, each local government that adopts an ordinance under subsection (1) of this section must submit a report covering the previous year's compost procurement activities to the Washington center for sustainable food management created in chapter 70A.--- RCW (the new chapter created in section 901 of this act) that contains the following information:
The total tons of organic material diverted throughout the year;
The volume and cost of compost purchased throughout the year; and
The source or sources of the compost.
Local governments shall give priority to purchasing compost products from companies that produce compost products locally, are certified by a nationally recognized organization, and produce compost products that are derived from municipal solid waste compost programs and meet quality standards comparable to standards adopted by the department of transportation or adopted by rule by the department of ecology.
Local governments may enter into collective purchasing agreements if doing so is more cost-effective or efficient.
Nothing in this section requires a compost processor to:
Enter into a purchasing agreement with a local government;
Sell finished compost to meet this requirement; or
Accept or process food waste or compostable products.
This section modifies existing section 39.30.040. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Whenever a unit of local government is required to make purchases from the lowest bidder or from the supplier offering the lowest price for the items desired to be purchased, the unit of local government may, at its option when awarding a purchase contract, take into consideration tax revenue it would receive from purchasing the supplies, materials, or equipment from a supplier located within its boundaries. The unit of local government must award the purchase contract to the lowest bidder after such tax revenue has been considered. However, any local government may allow for preferential purchase of products made from recycled materials or products that may be recycled or reused. Any local government may allow for preferential purchase of compost to meet the requirements of RCW 43.19A.120. Any unit of local government which considers tax revenue it would receive from the imposition of taxes upon a supplier located within its boundaries must also consider tax revenue it would receive from taxes it imposes upon a supplier located outside its boundaries.
A unit of local government may award a contract to a bidder submitting the lowest bid before taxes are applied. The unit of local government must provide notice of its intent to award a contract based on this method prior to bids being submitted. For the purposes of this subsection (2), "taxes" means only those taxes that are included in "tax revenue" as defined in this section.
The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Tax revenue" means sales taxes that units of local government impose upon the sale of supplies, materials, or equipment from the supplier to units of local government, and business and occupation taxes that units of local government impose upon the supplier that are measured by the gross receipts of the supplier from the sale.
"Unit of local government" means any county, city, town, metropolitan municipal corporation, public transit benefit area, county transportation authority, or other municipal or quasi-municipal corporation authorized to impose sales and use taxes or business and occupation taxes.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 43.19A. Here is the modified chapter for context.
A contract by a local government or state agency must require the use of compost products to the maximum extent economically feasible to meet the requirements established in RCW 43.19A.120.
This section modifies existing section 70A.455.010. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The legislature finds and declares that it is the public policy of the state that:
Environmental marketing claims for plastic products, whether implicit or implied, should adhere to uniform and recognized standards for "compostability" and "biodegradability," since misleading, confusing, and deceptive labeling can negatively impact local composting programs and compost processors. Plastic products marketed as being "compostable" should be readily and easily identifiable as meeting these standards;
Legitimate and responsible packaging and plastic product manufacturers are already properly labeling their compostable products, but many manufacturers are not. Not all compost facilities and their associated processing technologies accept or are required to accept compostable packaging as feedstocks. However, implementing a standardized system and test methods may create the ability for them to take these products in the future.
Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to authorize the department of ecology, cities, and counties to pursue false or misleading environmental claims and "greenwashing" for plastic products claiming to be "compostable" or "biodegradable" when in fact they are not.
This section modifies existing section 70A.455.020. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"ASTM" means the American society for testing and materials.
"Biodegradable mulch film" means film plastic used as a technical tool in commercial farming applications that biodegrades in soil after being used, and:
The film product fulfills plant growth and regulated metals requirements of ASTM D6400; and
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Meets the requirements of Vincotte's "OK Biodegradable Soil" certification scheme, as that certification existed as of January 1, 2019;
At ambient temperatures and in soil, shows at least 90 percent biodegradation absolute or relative to microcrystalline cellulose in less than two years' time, tested according to ISO 17556 or ASTM 5988 standard test methods, as those test methods existed as of January 1, 2019; or
Meets the requirements of EN 17033 "plastics-biodegradable mulch films for use in agriculture and horticulture" as it existed on January 1, 2019.
"Federal trade commission guides" means the United States federal trade commission's guides for the use of environmental marketing claims (Part 260, commencing at section 260.1), compostability claims, including section 260.8, and degradation claims (subchapter B of chapter I of Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations), as those guides existed as of January 1, 2019.
"Film product" means a bag, sack, wrap, or other sheet film product.
"Food service product" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 70A.245.010.
6.
"Person" means individual, firm, association, copartnership, political subdivision, government agency, municipality, industry, public or private corporation, or any other entity whatsoever.
"Plastic food packaging and food service products" means food packaging and food service products that is composed of:
Plastic; or
Fiber or paper with a plastic coating, window, component, or additive.
"Plastic product" means a product made of plastic, whether alone or in combination with another material including, but not limited to, paperboard. A plastic product includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
A product or part of a product that is used, bought, or leased for use by a person for any purpose;
A package or a packaging component including, but not limited to, packaging peanuts;
A film product; or
Plastic food packaging and food service products.
"Standard specification" means either:
ASTM D6400 – standard specification labeling of plastics designed to be aerobically composted in municipal or industrial facilities, as it existed as of January 1, 2019; or
ASTM D6868 – standard specification for labeling of end items that incorporate plastics and polymers as coatings or additives with paper and other substrates designed to be aerobically composted in municipal or industrial facilities, as it existed as of January 1, 2019.
"Utensil" means a product designed to be used by a consumer to facilitate the consumption of food or beverages, including knives, forks, spoons, cocktail picks, chopsticks, splash sticks, and stirrers.
"Department" means the department of ecology.
"Producer" means the following person responsible for compliance with this chapter for a product sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into this state:
If the product is sold under the manufacturer's own brand or lacks identification of a brand, the producer is the person who manufactures the product;
If the product is manufactured by a person other than the brand owner, the producer is the person who is the licensee of a brand or trademark under which a product is sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into this state, whether or not the trademark is registered in this state, unless the manufacturer or brand owner of the product has agreed to accept responsibility under this chapter; or
If there is no person described in (a) and (b) of this subsection over whom the state can constitutionally exercise jurisdiction, the producer is the person who imports or distributes the product in or into the state.
This section modifies existing section 70A.455.040. Here is the modified chapter for context.
A product labeled as "compostable" that is sold, offered for sale, or distributed for use in Washington by a producer must:
Meet ASTM standard specification D6400;
Meet ASTM standard specification D6868; or
Be comprised of wood, which includes renewable wood, or fiber-based substrate only;
A product described in subsection (1)(a) or (b) of this section must:
Meet labeling requirements established under the United States federal trade commission's guides; and
Feature labeling that:
Meets industry standards for being distinguishable upon quick inspection in both public sorting areas and in processing facilities;
Uses a logo indicating the product has been certified by a recognized third-party independent verification body as meeting the ASTM standard specification;
Displays the word "compostable," where possible, indicating the product has been tested by a recognized third-party independent body and meets the ASTM standard specification**; and**
Uses green, beige, or brown labeling, color striping, or other green, beige, or brown symbols, colors, tinting, marks, or design patterns that help differentiate compostable items from noncompostable items.
This section modifies existing section 70A.455.050. Here is the modified chapter for context.
A producer of a film bag that meets ASTM standard specification D6400 and is distributed or sold by retailers must ensure that the film bag is readily and easily identifiable from other film bags in a manner that is consistent with the federal trade commission guides.
For purposes of this section, "readily and easily identifiable" products must meet the following requirements:
Be labeled with a certification logo indicating the bag meets the ASTM D6400 standard specification if the bag has been certified as meeting that standard by a recognized third-party independent verification body;
Be labeled in accordance with one of the following:
The bag is tinted or made of a uniform color of green**, beige,** or brown and labeled with the word "compostable" on one side of the bag and the label must be at least one inch in height; or
Be labeled with the word "compostable" on both sides of the bag and the label must be one of the following:
(A) Green**, beige,** or brown color lettering at least one inch in height; or
(B) Within a contrasting green**, beige,** or brown color band of at least one inch in height on both sides of the bag with color contrasting lettering of at least one-half inch in height; and
c. Meet industry standards for being distinguishable upon quick inspection in both public sorting areas and in processing facilities.
If a bag is smaller than 14 inches by 14 inches, the lettering and stripe required under subsection (2)(b)(ii) of this section must be in proportion to the size of the bag.
A film bag that meets ASTM standard specification D6400 that is sold or distributed in this state may not display a chasing arrow resin identification code or recycling type of symbol in any form.
A producer is required to comply with this section only to the extent that the labeling requirements do not conflict with the federal trade commission guides.
This section modifies existing section 70A.455.060. Here is the modified chapter for context.
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A producer of plastic food service products or film products that meet ASTM standard specification D6400 or ASTM standard specification D6868 must ensure that the items are readily and easily identifiable from other plastic food service products or plastic film products in a manner that is consistent with the federal trade commission guides.
Film bags are exempt from the requirements of this section, and are instead subject to the requirements of RCW 70A.455.050.
For the purposes of this section, "readily and easily identifiable" products must:
Be labeled with a logo indicating the product has been certified by a recognized third-party independent verification body as meeting the ASTM standard specification;
Be labeled with the word "compostable," where possible, indicating the food packaging or film product has been tested by a recognized third-party independent body and meets the ASTM standard specification;
Meet industry standards for being distinguishable upon quick inspection in both public sorting areas and in processing facilities**; and**
Be at least partially colored or partially tinted green, beige, or brown.
3.
It is encouraged that each product described in subsection (1) of this section
display labeling language via printing, embossing, or compostable adhesive stickers using, when possible, either the colors green**, beige,** or brown that contrast with background product color for easy identification
.
Graphic elements are encouraged to increase legibility of the word "compostable" and overall product distinction that may include text boxes, stripes, bands, or a green**, beige,** or brown tint of the product.
A producer is required to comply with this section only to the extent that the labeling requirements do not conflict with the federal trade commission guides.
This section modifies existing section 70A.455.070. Here is the modified chapter for context.
A producer of plastic film bags sold, offered for sale, or distributed for use in Washington that does not meet the applicable ASTM standard specifications provided in RCW 70A.455.050 is:
Prohibited from using tinting, color schemes, labeling, or terms that are required of products that meet the applicable ASTM standard specifications under RCW 70A.455.050 ;
Discouraged from using labeling, images, and terms that may reasonably be anticipated to confuse consumers into believing that noncompostable products are compostable; and
Encouraged to use labeling, images, and terms to help consumers identify noncompostable bags as either: (i) Suitable for recycling; or (ii) necessary to dispose as waste.
A producer of food service products, or plastic film products other than plastic film bags subject to subsection (1) of this section, sold, offered for sale, or distributed for use in Washington that does not meet the applicable ASTM standard specifications provided in RCW 70A.455.060 is:
Prohibited from using labeling, or terms that are required of products that meet the applicable ASTM standard specifications under RCW 70A.455.060;
Discouraged from using labeling, images, and terms that may reasonably be anticipated to confuse consumers into believing that compostable products are compostable; and
Encouraged to use tinting, coloration, labeling, images, and terms to help consumers identify film products and food service packaging as either: (i) Suitable for recycling; or (ii) necessary to dispose as waste.
This section modifies existing section 70A.455.080. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Upon the request by a person, including the department, a producer shall submit to that person or the department, within 90 days of the request, nonconfidential business information and documentation demonstrating compliance with this chapter, in a format that is easy to understand and scientifically accurate.
Upon request by a commercial compost processing facility, producers of compostable products are encouraged to provide the facility with information regarding the technical aspects of a commercial composting environment, such as heat or moisture, in which the producer's product has been field tested and found to degrade.
This section modifies existing section 70A.455.090. Here is the modified chapter for context.
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The department and cities and counties have concurrent authority to enforce this chapter and to issue and collect civil penalties for a violation of this chapter, subject to the conditions in this section and RCW 70A.455.100. An enforcing government entity may impose a civil penalty in the amount of up to $2,000 for the first violation of this chapter, up to $5,000 for the second violation of this chapter, and up to $10,000 for the third and any subsequent violation of this chapter. If a producer has paid a prior penalty for the same violation to a different government entity with enforcement authority under this subsection, the penalty imposed by a government entity is reduced by the amount of the payment.
The enforcement of this chapter must be based primarily on complaints filed with the department and cities and counties. The department must establish a forum for the filing of complaints. Cities, counties, or any person may file complaints with the department using the forum, and cities and counties may review complaints filed with the department via the forum. The forum established by the department may include a complaint form on the department's website, a telephone hotline, or a public outreach strategy relying upon electronic social media to receive complaints that allege violations. The department, in collaboration with the cities and counties, must provide education and outreach activities to inform retail establishments, consumers, and producers about the requirements of this chapter.
Penalties issued by the department are appealable to the pollution control hearings board established in chapter 43.21B RCW.
The remedies provided by this section are not exclusive and are in addition to the remedies that may be available pursuant to chapter 19.86 RCW or other consumer protection laws, if applicable.
In addition to penalties recovered under this section, the enforcing city or county may recover reasonable enforcement costs and attorneys' fees from the liable producer.
This section modifies existing section 70A.455.100. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Producers who violate the requirements of this chapter are subject to civil penalties described in RCW 70A.455.090. A specific violation is deemed to have occurred upon the sale of noncompliant product by stock-keeping unit number or unique item number. The repeated sale of the same noncompliant product by stock-keeping unit number or unique item number is considered a single violation.
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A city or county enforcing a requirement of this chapter must send a written notice and a copy of the requirements to a noncompliant producer of an alleged violation, who will have 90 days to become compliant.
A city or county enforcing a requirement of this chapter may assess a first penalty if the producer has not met the requirements 90 days following the date the notification was sent. A city or county may impose second, third, and subsequent penalties on a producer that remains noncompliant with the requirements of this chapter for every month of noncompliance.
The department may only impose penalties under this chapter consistent with the standards established in RCW 43.21B.300.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 70A.455. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The department may adopt rules as necessary for the purpose of implementing, administering, and enforcing this chapter.
Producers of a product subject to RCW 70A.455.040, 70A.455.050, or 70A.455.060 must submit, under penalty of perjury, a declaration that the product meets the standards established under those sections of this chapter for the product. This declaration must be submitted to the department:
By January 1, 2024, for a product that is or will be sold or distributed into Washington beginning January 1, 2024;
Prior to the sale or distribution of a product newly sold or distributed into Washington after January 1, 2024; and
Prior to the sale or distribution of a product whose method of compliance with the standards established in RCW 70A.455.040, 70A.455.050, or 70A.455.060 is materially changed from the method of compliance used at the last declaration submission under this section.
The department must begin enforcing the requirements of this chapter by July 1, 2024.
This section modifies existing section 70A.455.030. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Except as provided in this chapter, no producer may sell, offer for sale, or distribute for use in this state a plastic product that is labeled with the term "biodegradable," "degradable," "decomposable," "oxo-degradable," or any similar form of those terms, or in any way imply that the plastic product will break down, fragment, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or other environment.
This section does not apply to biodegradable mulch film that meets the required testing and has the appropriate third-party certifications.
If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.