wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > SB 5058 > Original Bill
The legislature finds that:
Washington state has been a leader in recycling policy, reaching the goal of 50 percent recycling set by the legislature in RCW 70A.205.005. The legislature further finds that, since meeting the state's goal to achieve a 50 percent recycling rate, global market conditions have caused the recycling rate to fall below 50 percent, demonstrating the dependence of recycling rates on reliable, consistent recycling markets for recyclable materials;
New goals and target recycling rates must be established and a comprehensive needs assessment is necessary to implement improvements to Washington's existing recycling system to reach those goals;
Programs, activities, or projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the solid waste sector, including a comprehensive needs assessment, are intended to be funded from the climate commitment account;
88 percent of Washington residents living in single-family homes and 77 percent living in multifamily residences have access to curbside recycling services through a robust regulatory structure that ensures equal access to services at affordable rates; and
The investments in infrastructure by Washington companies has led to the development of materials sorting and processing superior to most other states.
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The legislature finds that contamination in the recycling stream is a major impediment to higher recovery rates.
It is the intent of the legislature to implement proven strategies to address these challenges, including:
The establishment of a single statewide list of materials for recyclables collected through Washington's curbside recycling system to reduce confusion and increase participation;
A robust needs assessment unique to Washington state to determine costs and investments necessary to achieve a 65 percent overall recycling rate for packaging;
Study the use of recycling symbols on packaging that cannot be readily recycled through Washington's recycling system; and
The expansion of the successful recycled content requirements to ensure more materials are manufactured with postconsumer material.
It is the intent of the legislature that:
Producers increase the use of postconsumer recycled content in their products, to achieve the goals in RCW 70A.520.010(2) and to create strong markets for recycled materials and achieve environmental benefits; and
Through design and innovation, producers will reduce the use and climate impact of consumer packaging and paper products and increase the use of postconsumer recycled content.
Finally, it is the intent of the legislature that Washington should maintain the successful public-private partnership between state, local government, and solid waste and recycling service providers. The legislature does not intend to diminish or displace the primary role of the utilities and transportation commission and local governments in regulating or contracting directly with service providers for the curbside collection of residential recyclables. Local governments maintain their existing authority to collect, contract for collection with solid waste and recycling service providers, or defer to solid waste collection services regulated by the utilities and transportation commission.
Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to implement proven strategies to address these challenges, including:
A robust needs assessment unique to Washington state to determine costs and investments necessary to achieve a 65 percent overall recycling rate for packaging; and
The expansion of the successful recycled content requirements to ensure more materials are manufactured with postconsumer material.
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Consumable product" means a commodity that is intended to be used and not disposed of.
"Contaminant" means a material set out for curbside recycling collection that is not on the list of materials accepted for recycling collection by a recycling collection program.
"Contamination" means the presence of one or more contaminants in a recycling collection or commodity stream in an amount or concentration that negatively impacts the value of the material or negatively impacts a processor's ability to sort that material.
"Covered product" means packaging and paper products sold or supplied to consumers for personal, noncommercial use and disposed of through residential curbside or drop-off site collection systems.
"Department" means the department of ecology.
"Glass" means a covered product made of soda lime glass.
"Material category" means a group of covered products that have similar properties such as chemical composition, shape, or other characteristics.
"Overburdened community" means an overburdened community identified and prioritized by the department under RCW 70A.02.050(1)(a).
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"Packaging" means a material, substance, or object that is:
Used to protect, contain, transport, or serve an item;
Sold or supplied to consumers expressly for the purpose of protecting, containing, transporting, or serving items;
Attached to an item or its container for the purpose of marketing or communicating information about the item;
Supplied at the point of sale to facilitate the delivery of the item; or
Supplied to or purchased by consumers expressly for the purpose of facilitating food or beverage consumption that is ordinarily discarded by consumers after a single use or short-term use, whether or not it could be reused.
"Packaging" does not include:
Materials intended to be used for the long-term storage or protection of a durable product, that is intended to transport, protect, or store the durable product on an ongoing basis, and that can be expected to be usable for that purpose for a period of at least five years;
For purposes of this chapter only, materials used to package pesticide products regulated by the federal insecticide, fungicide, and rodenticide act, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 136 et seq., that are in direct contact with the regulated product. This exemption does not include products regulated by the United States food and drug administration;
Liquefied petroleum gas containers that are designed to be refilled and reused;
iv.(A) Packaging for drugs that are used for animal medicines including parasiticide products for animals; and
(B) Packaging for products intended for animals that are regulated as animal drugs, biologics, parasiticides, medical devices, or diagnostics used to treat, or administered to, animals under the federal food, drug, and cosmetic act, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 301 et seq., the federal insecticide, fungicide, and rodenticide act, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 136 et seq., or the federal virus-serum-toxin act, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 151 et seq., as amended;
v. Packaging for products that are regulated as a medical device, dietary supplement, or drug by the United States food and drug administration under the federal food, drug, and cosmetic act, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 321 et seq. or products that are regulated as a biologic or vaccine by the federal food and drug administration under the public health service act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 201 et seq.;
vi. Packaging related to containers of architectural paint that has been collected by a stewardship organization under the program established in chapter 70A.515 RCW;
vii. Packaging used to contain hazardous or flammable products classified by the 2012 federal occupational safety and health administration hazard communication standard, 29 C.F.R. Sec. 1910.1200 (2012).
"Paper product" means paper sold or supplied including flyers, brochures, booklets, catalogs, magazines, and all other paper materials except for: (a) Bound books; (b) conservation grade and archival grade paper; (c) newspapers; (d) paper designed for use in building construction; and (e) paper products that, by any common and foreseeable use, could reasonably be anticipated to become unsafe or unsanitary to handle.
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"Producer" means the following person responsible for compliance with covered product registration and reporting requirements under this chapter for a covered product sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into this state:
If the covered product is sold with the manufacturer's own brand or lacks identification of a brand, the producer is the person who manufactures the covered product;
If the covered 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 covered 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 covered product has agreed to accept responsibility under this chapter; or
If there is no person described in (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection over whom the state can constitutionally exercise jurisdiction, the producer is the person who imports or distributes the covered product in or into the state.
A person is the "producer" of a covered product sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into this state, as defined in (a)(i) through (iii) of this subsection, except where another person has mutually signed an agreement with a producer as defined in (a)(i) through (iii) of this subsection that contractually assigns responsibility to the person as the producer, and the person has joined a registered producer responsibility organization as the responsible producer for that covered product under this chapter.
"Producer" does not include:
Government agencies, municipalities, or other political subdivisions of the state;
Registered 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations; or
De minimis producers that annually sell, offer for sale, distribute, or import in or into the country for sale in Washington:
(A) Less than one ton of covered products each year; or
(B) That have a global gross revenue of less than $5,000,000 for the most recent fiscal year of the organization. The department shall calculate an adjusted rate to maintain the small business exemption by the rate of inflation. The adjusted rate must be calculated to the nearest cent using the consumer price index for urban wage earners. Each adjusted rate calculated under this subsection takes effect on the following January 1st.
To inform the future development of strategies to increase recovery rates consistent with the goals established in subsection (2) of this section, the department must:
Identify a statewide list of materials suitable for curbside collection services and a statewide list of materials suitable for drop-off collection, consistent with section 203 of this act, to be completed by October 1, 2026;
Complete a statewide needs assessment to meet the goal established in subsection (2) of this section and be carried out by a third-party consultant selected by the department, consistent with section 204 of this act, and completed by October 1, 2027; and
Begin overseeing the registration and data reporting of producers of packaging, consistent with section 205 of this act.
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A goal is established for the state to achieve a recycling rate of 65 percent for covered products. The department must, in consultation with the advisory committee established in section 207 of this act, identify a methodology for calculating progress towards this goal as part of its duties under section 204 of this act, and must begin tracking and periodically making public the state's progress towards this goal beginning in the year following the initial reporting of data by producers under section 205 of this act.
The goals established in this subsection must be used to inform the statewide needs assessment in section 204 of this act.
For purposes of implementing this chapter, the department may, where appropriate, use and rely on the recommended recycling rate targets contained in the department's December 2023 Washington Recycling, Reuse, and Source Reduction Target Study and Community Input Process.
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By October 1, 2026, the department must develop and publish a:
List of recyclable materials suitable for curbside collection from residents in single-family and multifamily residences; and
Separate list of materials suitable for residential drop-off collection.
The department must review and update the lists in (a) of this subsection by October 1, 2031, and no less often than every five years thereafter. During the review and update of the lists, the department must newly review each material included on the previous versions of the lists using the factors described in subsection (4) of this section and may only continue to include materials on a list after considering the factors described in subsection (4) of this section.
The initial list of materials suitable for curbside collection developed and published under this section must include the following materials:
Newspaper;
Paperboard and chipboard;
Loose paper;
Corrugated cardboard;
Magazines;
Envelopes;
Aluminum cans;
Tin or steel cans;
Polyethylene terephthalate containers.
The initial list of materials suitable for drop-off residential collection must include the following materials:
Glass; and
Flexible plastic.
In addition to the materials identified under subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the department may identify additional materials for inclusion on a list or remove materials from inclusion on a list based on consultation with the advisory committee established in section 207 of this act, and after considering the following factors:
The stability, maturity, accessibility, and viability of responsible end markets;
Economic factors;
Environmental factors from a life-cycle perspective;
The material's compatibility with existing recycling infrastructure;
The amount of the material available;
The ability for waste generators to easily identify and properly prepare the material;
The practicalities of sorting and storing the material;
Contamination;
The anticipated yield loss for the material during the recycling process.
The statewide needs assessment must be consistent with the following requirements:
The final scope of the statewide needs assessment must be determined after considering comments and recommendations from stakeholders, each jurisdiction planning under chapter 70A.205 RCW, and the advisory committee established in section 207 of this act; and
Stakeholders, jurisdictions planning under chapter 70A.205 RCW, and the advisory committee must have the opportunity to review and comment on the draft statewide needs assessment at least 90 days prior to its completion. The advisory committee must have the opportunity to review drafts of the needs assessment and accompanying data used in the needs assessment.
The statewide needs assessment must be:
Informed by highest achievable recycling rates and recommended targets in the 2023 performance rates study identified in section 202 of this act and rates and other comments suggested by stakeholders and the advisory committee;
Limited to covered products collected from residents in single-family and multifamily residences included on the list developed and published by the department in section 202 of this act;
Completed only after individual consultation with each jurisdiction planning under chapter 70A.205 RCW; and
Accepted from the selected consultant as complete by the department.
The statewide needs assessment must:
For each jurisdiction planning under chapter 70A.205 RCW, evaluate the capacity, costs, gaps, and needs for the following factors necessary to achieve recycling performance rate recommendations to reach the goal identified under section 202 of this act:
(A) Availability and types of recycling services for covered products for residents in single-family and multifamily residences, including whether current services are considered residential or commercial and whether any gaps, costs, or needs are specific to either commercial or residential customer service;
(B) The current methods and infrastructure for serving residents, including curbside recycling service areas and material drop-off locations;
(C) Any densely populated areas within each jurisdiction in which curbside recycling services for covered products identified by the department on the list developed and published under section 203 of this act are not available or are only partially available;
(D) Any areas within each jurisdiction where curbside garbage collection services are offered to residents in single-family and multifamily residences but curbside recycling services are not offered;
ii. Evaluate what new or expanded services and infrastructure are needed in each county and city planning under chapter 70A.205 RCW to meet the target performance rates and what the anticipated costs are for those additional services and infrastructure;
iii. Education and outreach activities, which may include digital mediums on packaging;
iv. Availability and performance of collection, transport, and processing capacity and infrastructure, including consideration of material quality and contamination;
v. Necessary capital investments to existing reuse and recycling infrastructure, and how to maximize the use of existing infrastructure;
b. Compile information related to actual costs for curbside collection services, drop-off collection services, and other information relevant to the funding requirements to achieve performance rates, including costs for various service methods recommended by stakeholders during the study scoping process;
c. Estimate the total costs of investments necessary to reach target rates, within each jurisdiction, as well as ongoing program costs related to labor, equipment, and maintenance. Cost factors and variables to be considered in the estimates include:
i. Population size and density of a local jurisdiction;
ii. Types of households serviced and collection method used;
iii. Distance from a local jurisdiction to the nearest recycling facility;
iv. Whether a jurisdiction pays for transportation and sorting of collected materials and whether it receives a commodity value from processed materials;
v. Geographic location or other variables contributing to regional differences in costs;
vi. Cost increases over time; and
vii. Any other factors as determined to be necessary by the department, with input from stakeholders;
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i. Identify cost factors and other variables to be considered in the development of funding estimates for government entities for any services other than curbside collection to be carried out by government entities that may be needed to achieve performance rates developed under section 202 of this act;
ii. Identify methods to consider greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental outcomes associated with potential expansions of curbside recycling services to rural or sparsely populated areas;
e. Compile relevant information to be considered in the development of criteria by the department to determine whether a covered product is recyclable, reusable, or compostable through Washington's curbside recycling collection system. The relevant information to be compiled may include whether covered product materials are:
i. Or may be, collected, separated, and processed in sufficient quantity and quality into a marketable feedstock that can be used in the production of new products; or
ii. Designed in a way that is problematic for reuse, recycling, or composting;
f. Evaluate how the state's existing recycling system can be improved in a socially just manner as it relates to activities required under this chapter. The assessment must:
i. Include meaningful consultation with overburdened communities and vulnerable populations;
ii. Determine conditions and make recommendations including, at minimum:
(A) Improving access to the recycling system for women and minority individuals;
(B) The sufficiency of local government requirements related to multifamily recycling services and their implementation;
(C) Identification of activities that negatively disproportionately impact any community and in particular overburdened communities and vulnerable populations, including new fees, costs, or deposits;
(D) Improving the sufficiency of recycling education and outreach programs relative to desired socially just management outcomes;
(E) Recommendations for improving socially just management practices and outcomes in the state's recycling system; and
(F) Evaluate the extent to which covered products contribute to litter and marine debris. The assessment should draw on available data, assess gaps, and identify strategies for improving prevention and cleanup of litter and marine debris from covered products;
g. Compile information from available data sources on the presence of toxic substances in covered products and their potential negative impacts on reuse, recycling, and composting systems. The information compiled is intended to inform the development of ecomodulation factors that incentivize the reduction of toxic substances that have potentially negative impacts when covered products are managed through reuse, recycling, and composting systems; and
h. Conduct voluntary interviews with service providers of curbside recycling services or recycling processing services within a jurisdiction on costs for additional infrastructure, vehicles, staff, equipment, and other investments to achieve the recycling performance goal established under section 202 of this act.
The registration information submitted to the department under this section must include a list of the producers of covered products and the brand names of the covered products represented in the registration submittal. Beginning in 2027, a producer may submit registration information at the same time as the information submitted through the annual reporting in subsection (3) of this section.
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Beginning April 1, 2027, each producer of covered products, individually or through a third party representing a group of producers, must provide an annual report to the department that includes, by material category, the volume in pounds of covered products sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into Washington during the preceding calendar year.
The report must be submitted in a format and manner prescribed by the department. A manufacturer may submit national data allocated on a per capita basis for Washington to approximate the information required in this subsection if the producer or third-party representative demonstrates to the department that state level data are not available or feasible to generate.
The department must post the information reported under this subsection on its website, except as provided in (d) of this subsection.
A producer that submits information or records to the department under this chapter may request that the information or records be made available only for the confidential use of the department, the director, or the appropriate division of the department. The director of the department must give consideration to the request and if this action is not detrimental to the public interest and is otherwise in accordance with the policies and purposes of chapter 43.21A RCW, the director must grant the request for the information to remain confidential as authorized in RCW 43.21A.160.
The department shall adopt rules as necessary to administer, implement, and enforce this section and section 205 of this act.
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The department may conduct audits and investigations for the purpose of ensuring compliance with section 205 of this act.
The department shall annually publish a list of registered producers of covered products and associated brand names, their compliance status, and other information the department deems appropriate on the department's website.
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By January 31, 2026, and every January 31st thereafter, the department must:
Prepare an annual workload analysis for public comment that identifies the annual costs it expects to incur to implement, administer, and enforce this section and section 205 of this act, and to carry out its obligations under this chapter;
Determine a total annual fee payment by producers or their third-party representatives that is adequate to cover, but not exceed, the workload identified in (a)(i) of this subsection;
Until rules are adopted under (a)(iv) of this subsection, issue a general order to all entities falling within the definition of producer. The department must equitably determine fee amounts;
By 2028, adopt rules to equitably determine annual fee payments by producers or their third-party representatives. Once such rules are adopted, the general order issued under (a)(iii) of this subsection is no longer effective; and
Send notice to producers or their third-party representatives of fee amounts due consistent with either the general order issued under (a)(iii) of this subsection or rules adopted under (a)(iv) of this subsection.
The department must:
Apply any remaining annual payment funds from the current year to the annual payment for the coming year, if the collected annual payment exceeds the department's costs for a given year; and
Increase annual payments for the coming year to cover the department's costs, if the collected annual payment was less than the department's costs for a given year.
By April 1, 2026, and every April 1st thereafter, producers or their third-party representatives must submit a fee payment as determined by the department under (a) of this subsection. Fee payments must be deposited in the packaging recycling oversight account created in section 209 of this act.
For producers out of compliance with the registration or reporting requirements of section 205 of this act, the department shall provide written notification and offer information to producers. For the purposes of this section, written notification serves as notice of the violation. The department must issue at least two notices of violation by certified mail prior to assessing a penalty under subsection (5) of this section.
The department may assess a penalty in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each day for a violation of this section or section 205 of this act. Penalties collected under this section must be deposited in the recycling enhancement account created in RCW 70A.245.100.
Penalties issued under this section are appealable to the pollution control hearings board established in chapter 43.21B RCW.
An advisory committee is established.
The advisory committee consists of members appointed by the department as follows:
Four representatives of local governments representing geographic areas across the state, including two representatives of counties and two representatives of cities, each with one representative of urban communities and one representative of rural communities;
One representative of tribal or indigenous solid waste services organizations;
One representative of special purpose districts involved in activities related to the end-of-life management of solid waste;
Two representatives of community-based organizations whose mission is to serve the interests of overburdened communities and vulnerable populations;
Two representatives of environmental nonprofit organizations;
One owner or operator of a small business that is not eligible for representation under (g), (h), or (i) of this subsection;
Six representatives of the recycling industry, including local governments' service providers, solid waste collection companies or associations, material recovery facilities, or other processing facilities;
Four representatives of producers of covered products or producer trade associations representing different types of covered products;
One representative of a retail establishment.
Advisory committee members must be appointed by the director of the department by September 1, 2026. In appointing members, the department shall:
Appoint members that, to the greatest extent practicable, represent diversity in race, ethnicity, age, and gender, urban and rural areas, and different regions of the state; and
Consider recommendations for appointments from relevant represented groups or associations and from individuals interested in participating on the advisory committee.
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The terms of initial appointments must be staggered to two-year and three-year appointments, with subsequent terms of three years. Members are eligible for reappointment.
If there is a vacancy for any reason, the department shall make an appointment to become effective immediately for the unexpired term.
The advisory committee shall meet at least once every three months at times and places specified by the department. The advisory committee may also meet at other times and places, including virtually, specified by the department or by a call of a majority of the committee members, as necessary, to carry out the duties of the advisory committee.
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The department shall provide staff support and facilitation as necessary for the advisory committee to carry out its duties.
The department may select an impartial, third-party facilitator to convene and provide administrative support to the advisory committee.
The department may establish working groups, comprised of interested members of the advisory committee, to discuss issues related to implementation of this chapter, which report back to the full advisory committee including, but limited to, the truth in labeling task force established in section 208 of this act.
The duties of the advisory committee include the following:
Advise and make recommendations to the department on the lists developed and published by the department under section 203 of this act;
Advise and make recommendations to the department on the scope of the statewide needs assessment under section 204 of this act;
Review and comment on draft statewide needs assessments prior to their completion;
Review and comment on the department's implementation and administration of the registration and reporting requirements in sections 205 and 206 of this act; and
Provide input, review, and comment on rules proposed by the department under this chapter.
Advisory committee members that are representatives of tribes or tribal and indigenous services organizations or community-based and environmental nonprofit organizations must, if requested, be compensated and reimbursed in accordance with RCW 43.03.050, 43.03.060, and 43.03.220.
The truth in labeling task force is established as a subgroup of the advisory committee established in section 207 of this act.
The truth in labeling task force shall consist of interested members of the advisory committee.
The truth in labeling task force shall study and evaluate misleading or confusing claims regarding the recyclability of products made on a product or product packaging. The task force shall make recommendations to the legislature for the development of recyclability labeling standards and requirements for products and packaging sold in Washington. The study must include consideration of issues affecting accessibility for diverse audiences.
The department must transmit a final report and recommendations from the truth in labeling task force, in the form of draft legislation, to the appropriate committees of the legislature by June 1, 2026.
The department must provide staff support to the truth in labeling task force.
The packaging recycling oversight account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts received by the department under RCW 70A.245.020 must be deposited in the account. Expenditures from the account may be used by the department only for implementing, administering, and enforcing the requirements of this chapter. Only the director of the department or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to the allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
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Beginning January 1, 2023, producers that offer for sale, sell, or distribute in or into Washington:
Beverages other than wine in 187 milliliter plastic beverage containers and dairy milk in plastic beverage containers must meet minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements established under subsection (4) of this section; and
Plastic trash bags must meet minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements established under subsection (6) of this section.
Beginning January 1, 2025, producers that offer for sale, sell, or distribute in or into Washington household cleaning and personal care products in plastic household cleaning and personal care product containers must meet minimum postconsumer recycled content as required under subsection (5) of this section.
Beginning January 1, 2028, producers that offer for sale, sell, or distribute in or into Washington wine in 187 milliliter plastic beverage containers or dairy milk in plastic beverage containers must meet minimum postconsumer recycled content as required under subsection (4) of this section.
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On or before April 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, a producer that offers for sale, sells, or distributes in or into Washington covered products must register with the department individually or through a third-party representative registering on behalf of a group of producers.
The registration information submitted to the department under this section must include a list of the producers of covered products and the brand names of the covered products represented in the registration submittal. Beginning April 1, 2024, for plastic trash bags and plastic beverage containers other than wine in 187 milliliter plastic beverage containers and dairy milk in plastic beverage containers, April 1, 2026, for plastic household and personal care product containers, and April 1, 2029, for wine in 187 milliliter plastic beverage containers and dairy milk, a producer may submit registration information at the same time as the information submitted through the annual reporting required under RCW 70A.245.030.
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By January 31, 2022, and every January 31st thereafter, the department must:
Prepare an annual workload analysis for public comment that identifies the annual costs it expects to incur to implement, administer, and enforce this section and RCW 70A.245.030 through 70A.245.060 and 70A.245.090 (1), (2), and (4), including rule making, in the next fiscal year for each category of covered products;
Determine a total annual fee payment by producers or their third-party representatives for each category of covered products that is adequate to cover, but not exceed, the workload identified in (a)(i) of this subsection;
Until rules are adopted under (a)(iv) of this subsection, issue a general order to all entities falling within the definition of producer. The department must equitably determine fee amounts for an individual producer or third-party representatives within each category of covered product;
By 2024, adopt rules to equitably determine annual fee payments by producers or their third-party representatives within each category of covered product. Once such rules are adopted, the general order issued under (a)(iii) of this subsection is no longer effective; and
Send notice to producers or their third-party representatives of fee amounts due consistent with either the general order issued under (a)(iii) of this subsection or rules adopted under (a)(iv) of this subsection.
The department must:
Apply any remaining annual payment funds from the current year to the annual payment for the coming year, if the collected annual payment exceeds the department's costs for a given year; and
Increase annual payments for the coming year to cover the department's costs, if the collected annual payment was less than the department's costs for a given year.
By April 1, 2022, and every April 1st thereafter, producers or their third-party representative must submit a fee payment as determined by the department under (a) of this subsection.
A producer of a beverage in a plastic beverage container must meet the following annual minimum postconsumer recycled content percentage on average for the total quantity of plastic beverage containers, by weight, that are sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into Washington by the producer effective:
For beverages except wine in 187 milliliter plastic beverage containers and dairy milk:
January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2025: No less than 15 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight;
January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030: No less than 25 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight; and
On and after January 1, 2031: No less than 50 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight.
For wine in 187 milliliter plastic beverage containers and dairy milk:
January 1, 2028, through December 31, 2030: No less than 15 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight;
January 1, 2031, through December 31, 2035: No less than 25 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight; and
On and after January 1, 2036: No less than 50 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight.
A producer of household cleaning and personal care products in plastic containers must meet the following annual minimum postconsumer recycled content percentage on average for the total quantity of plastic containers, by weight, that are sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into Washington by the producer effective:
January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2027: No less than 15 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight;
January 1, 2028, through December 31, 2030: No less than 25 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight; and
On and after January 1, 2031: No less than 50 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight.
A producer of plastic trash bags must meet the following annual minimum postconsumer recycled content percentage on average for the total quantity of plastic trash bags, by weight, that are sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into Washington by the producer effective:
January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2024: No less than 10 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight;
January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026: No less than 15 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight; and
On and after January 1, 2027: No less than 20 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight.
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Beginning January 1, 2024, or when rule making is complete, whichever is sooner, the department may, on an annual basis on January 1st, review and determine for the following year whether to adjust the minimum postconsumer recycled content percentage required for a type of container or product or category of covered products pursuant to subsection (4), (5), or (6) of this section. The department's review may be initiated by the department or at the petition of a producer or a covered product manufacturing industry not more than once annually. When submitting a petition, producers or a producer manufacturing industry must provide necessary information that will allow the department to make a determination under (b) of this subsection.
In making a determination pursuant to this subsection, the department must consider, at a minimum, all of the following factors:
Changes in market conditions, including supply and demand for postconsumer recycled content plastics, collection rates, and bale availability both domestically and globally;
Recycling rates;
The availability of recycled plastic suitable to meet the minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements pursuant to subsection (4), (5), or (6) of this section, including the availability of high quality recycled plastic, and food-grade recycled plastic from recycling programs;
The capacity of recycling or processing infrastructure;
The technical feasibility of achieving the minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements in covered products that are regulated under 21 C.F.R., chapter I, subchapter G, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 136, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1471-1477, 49 C.F.R. Sec. 178.33b, 49 C.F.R. Sec. 173, 40 C.F.R. Sec. 152.10, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1261-1278, 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq., 49 C.F.R. Sec. 178.509, 49 C.F.R. Sec. 179.522, 49 C.F.R. Sec. 178.600-609, and other federal laws; and
The progress made by producers in achieving the goals of this section.
Under (a) of this subsection:
The department may not adjust the minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements above the minimum postconsumer recycled content percentages for the year under review required pursuant to subsection (4), (5), or (6) of this section.
For plastic household cleaning and personal care product containers, the department may not adjust the minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements above the minimum postconsumer recycled content percentages for the year under review required pursuant to subsection (5) of this section or below a minimum of 10 percent.
For plastic trash bags, the department may not adjust the minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements above the minimum postconsumer recycled content percentages for the year under review required pursuant to subsection (6) of this section or below the minimum percentage required in subsection (6)(a) of this section.
A producer or the manufacturing industry for a covered product may appeal a decision by the department to adjust postconsumer recycled content percentages under (a) of this subsection or to temporarily exclude covered products from minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements under subsection (8) of this section to the pollution control hearings board within 30 days of the department's determination.
The department must temporarily exclude from minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements for the upcoming year any types of covered products in plastic containers for which a producer annually demonstrates to the department by December 31st of a given year that the achievement of postconsumer recycled content requirements in the container material is not technically feasible in order to comply with health or safety requirements of federal law, including the federal laws specified in subsection (7)(b)(v) of this section. A producer must continue to register and report consistent with the requirements of this chapter for covered products temporarily excluded from minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements under this subsection.
A producer that does not achieve the postconsumer recycled content requirements established under this section is subject to penalties established in RCW 70A.245.040.
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A city, town, county, or municipal corporation may not implement local recycled content requirements for a covered product that is subject to minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements established in this section.
A city, town, county, or municipal corporation may establish local purchasing requirements that include recycled content standards that exceed the minimum recycled content requirements established by this chapter for plastic household cleaning and personal care product containers or plastic trash bags purchased by a city, town, or municipal corporation, or its contractor.
The department may enter into contracts for the services required to implement this chapter and related duties of the department.
In-state distributors, wholesalers, and retailers in possession of covered products manufactured before the date that postconsumer recycled content requirements become effective may exhaust their existing stock through sales to the public.
A producer of polypropylene tubs must meet the following annual minimum postconsumer recycled content percentage on average for the total quantity of polypropylene tubs, by weight, that are sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into Washington by the producer effective as of:
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Products manufactured between January 1, 2031, through December 31, 2035: No less than 10 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight; and
Products manufactured on and after January 1, 2036: No less than 30 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight.
For polypropylene tubs in direct contact with food or edible products:
Products manufactured between January 1, 2035, through December 31, 2038: No less than 10 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight; and
Products manufactured on and after January 1, 2040: No less than 30 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight.
A producer of single-use plastic cups made of polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, or polystyrene must meet the following annual minimum postconsumer recycled content percentage on average for the total quantity of single-use plastic cups, by weight, that are sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into Washington by the producer effective:
For polypropylene single-use plastic cups:
Products manufactured between January 1, 2032, through December 31, 2032: No less than 15 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight; and
Products manufactured on and after January 1, 2034: No less than 25 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight.
For polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene single-use plastic cups:
Products manufactured between January 1, 2034, through December 31, 2035: No less than 20 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight; and
Products manufactured on and after January 1, 2036: No less than 30 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight.
A producer of a polyethylene terephthalate thermoform plastic container must meet the following annual minimum postconsumer recycled content percentage on average for the total quantity of polyethylene terephthalate thermoform plastic containers, by weight, that are sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into Washington by the producer effective:
For packaging for consumable goods:
Products manufactured between January 1, 2031, through December 31, 2035: No less than 10 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight; and
Products manufactured on and after January 1, 2036: No less than 30 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight.
For packaging for consumable goods in direct contact with food or edible products:
Products manufactured between January 1, 2035, through December 31, 2039: No less than 10 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight; and
Products manufactured on and after January 1, 2040: No less than 30 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight.
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Except as provided in (c)(ii) of this subsection, for packaging used for durable goods: On and after January 1, 2034, no less than 30 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight.
Packaging designed to accompany a durable good where that durable good model is designed prior to the effective date of the requirement in (c)(i) of this subsection is exempt.
The department may extend a date identified in subsection (13), (14), or (15) of this section by up to five years for all producers if the department determines there is inadequate availability of recycled material or a substantial disruption in the supply of the recycled material.
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Except as provided in (b) through (d) of this subsection, beginning April 1, 2024, each producer of covered products, individually or through a third party representing a group of producers, must provide an annual report to the department that includes the amount in pounds of virgin plastic and the amount in pounds of postconsumer recycled content by resin type used for each category of covered products that are sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into Washington state, including the total postconsumer recycled content resins as a percentage of total weight. The report must be submitted in a format and manner prescribed by the department. A manufacturer may submit national data allocated on a per capita basis for Washington to approximate the information required in this subsection if the producer or third-party representative demonstrates to the department that state level data are not available or feasible to generate.
The requirements of (a) of this subsection apply to household cleaning and personal care products in plastic containers beginning April 1, 2026.
The requirements of (a) of this subsection apply to wine in 187 milliliter plastic beverage containers and dairy milk in plastic beverage containers beginning April 1, 2029.
The requirements of (a) of this subsection apply to:
Polypropylene tubs and polyethylene terephthalate thermoform plastic containers for consumable goods beginning April 1, 2032;
Polypropylene single-use plastic cups beginning April 1, 2033;
Polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene single-use plastic cups and polyethylene terephthalate thermoform plastic container packaging used for durable goods beginning January 1, 2035; and
Polypropylene tubs in direct contact with food and polyethylene terephthalate thermoform plastic container packaging for consumable goods in direct contact with food or edible products beginning April 1, 2036.
The department must post the information reported under this subsection on its website, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section.
A producer that submits information or records to the department under this chapter may request that the information or records be made available only for the confidential use of the department, the director, or the appropriate division of the department. The director of the department must give consideration to the request and if this action is not detrimental to the public interest and is otherwise in accordance with the policies and purposes of chapter 43.21A RCW, the director must grant the request for the information to remain confidential as authorized in RCW 43.21A.160.
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A producer may pay a $1,000 waiver fee, unless exempt from the postconsumer recycled content requirements of RCW 70A.245.020 (13), (14), or (15), and apply to the department for a waiver from the postconsumer recycled content requirements established pursuant to RCW 70A.245.020 (13), (14), or (15). De minimis producers that apply for a waiver under this subsection are not subject to the fee.
The department may grant a waiver pursuant to this section if the producer demonstrates, and the department finds, in writing, that any of the following are applicable:
The producer cannot achieve the postconsumer recycled content requirements and remain in compliance with applicable rules and regulations adopted by the United States food and drug administration, or any other state or federal law, rule, or regulation;
It is not technically feasible for the producer to achieve the postconsumer recycled content requirements; or
The producer cannot comply with the postconsumer recycled content requirements due to inadequate availability of recycled material or a substantial disruption in the supply of recycled material.
Fees paid under this section must be deposited in the recycled content account created in RCW 70A.245.110.
The department must ensure that any rules adopted pursuant to this chapter consider guidelines, and not conflict with regulations, issued by the United States food and drug administration and the United States department of agriculture and consider requirements imposed by other Washington state agencies including, but not limited to, the department of agriculture.
The department may not impose any requirement including, but not limited to, a postconsumer recycled content requirement, in direct conflict with a federal law or regulation or the requirements necessary to comply with a federal law or regulation including, but not limited to:
Laws or regulations covering tamper-evident packaging pursuant to 21 C.F.R. Sec. 211.132;
Laws or regulations covering child-resistant packaging pursuant to 16 C.F.R. Sec. 1700.1 et seq.;
Regulations, rules, or guidelines issued by the United States department of agriculture or the United States food and drug administration related to packaging agricultural commodities; and
Requirements for microbial contamination, structural integrity, or safety of packaging where no viable recyclable or compostable packaging that can meet the requirements exists, pursuant to: (i) The federal food, drug, and cosmetic act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 301 et seq.); (ii) 21 U.S.C. Sec. 2101 et seq.; (iii) the federal food and drug administration food safety modernization act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 2201 et seq.); (iv) the federal poultry products inspection act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 451 et seq.); (v) the federal meat inspection act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.); or (vi) the federal egg products inspection act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 1031 et seq.).
The department may not impose any requirement including, but not limited to, a postconsumer recycled content requirement, on medical devices, drugs, or dietary supplements as defined in 21 U.S.C. Sec. 321 et seq.
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
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"Beverage" means liquid products intended for human or animal consumption, and in a quantity more than or equal to two fluid ounces and less than or equal to one gallon:
Water and flavored water;
Beer or other malt beverages;
Wine;
Distilled spirits;
Mineral water, soda water, and similar carbonated soft drinks;
Dairy milk; and
Any other beverage identified by the department by rule.
Beverage does not include infant formula as defined in 21 U.S.C. Sec. 321(z), medical food as defined in 21 U.S.C. Sec. 360ee(b)(3), or fortified oral nutritional supplements used for persons who require supplemental or sole source nutrition to meet nutritional needs due to special dietary needs directly related to cancer, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, malnutrition, and failure to thrive, as those terms are defined by the international classification of diseases, 10th revision, or other medical conditions as determined by the department.
For any multilateral beverage container qualifying under this chapter, postconsumer recycled content requirements only apply to the weight of the plastic components of the container, not overall container weight.
"Beverage manufacturing industry" means an association that represents beverage producers.
"Condiment packaging" means packaging used to deliver single-serving condiments to customers. Condiment packaging includes, but is not limited to, single-serving packaging for ketchup, mustard, relish, mayonnaise, hot sauce, coffee creamer, salad dressing, jelly, jam, and soy sauce.
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"Covered product" means an item in one of the following categories subject to minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements:
Plastic trash bags;
Household cleaning and personal care products that use plastic household cleaning and personal care product containers;
Beverages that use plastic beverage containers;
Plastic tubs;
Thermoform plastic polyethylene terephthalate containers; and
"Dairy milk" means a beverage that designates milk as the predominant (first) ingredient in the ingredient list on the container's label.
"Department" means the department of ecology.
"Expanded polystyrene" means blown polystyrene and expanded and extruded foams that are thermoplastic petrochemical materials utilizing a styrene monomer and processed by any number of techniques including, but not limited to, fusion of polymer spheres (expandable bead polystyrene), injection molding, foam molding, and extrusion-blow molding (extruded foam polystyrene).
"Food service business" means a business selling or providing food for consumption on or off the premises, and includes full-service restaurants, fast food restaurants, cafes, delicatessens, coffee shops, grocery stores, vending trucks or carts, home delivery services, delivery services provided through an online application, and business or institutional cafeterias.
"Food service product" means a product intended for one-time use and used for food or drink offered for sale or use. Food service products include, but are not limited to, containers, plates, bowls, cups, lids, beverage containers, meat trays, deli rounds, utensils, sachets, straws, condiment packaging, clamshells and other hinged or lidded containers, wrap, and portion cups.
"Household cleaning and personal care product" means any of the following:
Laundry detergents, softeners, and stain removers;
Household cleaning products;
Liquid soap;
Shampoo, conditioner, styling sprays and gels, and other hair care products; or
Lotion, moisturizer, facial toner, and other skin care products.
"Household cleaning and personal care product manufacturing industry" means an association that represents companies that manufacture household cleaning products and personal care products.
"Licensee" means a manufacturer of a covered product or entity who licenses a brand and manufactures a covered product under that brand. A franchisee is not a licensee unless a franchisee meets the requirements of a licensee under this subsection.
"Oral nutritional supplement" means a manufactured liquid, powder capable of being reconstituted, or solid product that contains a combination of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals intended to supplement a portion of a patient's nutrition intake.
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"Plastic beverage container" means a bottle or other rigid container that is capable of maintaining its shape when empty, comprised solely of one or multiple plastic resins designed to contain a beverage. "Plastic beverage container" includes a container's cap or lid, beginning January 1, 2026;
Plastic beverage container does not include:
Refillable beverage containers, such as containers that are sufficiently durable for multiple rotations of their original or similar purpose and are intended to function in a system of reuse;
Rigid plastic containers or plastic bottles that are or are used for medical devices, medical products that are required to be sterile, nonprescription and prescription drugs, or dietary supplements as defined in RCW 82.08.0293;
Bladders or pouches that contain wine; or
Liners, caps, corks, closures, labels, and other items added externally or internally but otherwise separate from the structure of the bottle or container, other than a cap or lids; and
Other products subject to minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements.
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"Plastic household cleaning container or personal care product container" means a bottle, jug, or other rigid container :
With a minimum capacity of eight fluid ounces or its equivalent volume;
With a maximum capacity of five fluid gallons or its equivalent volume;
That is capable of maintaining its shape when empty;
Comprised solely of one or multiple plastic resins; and
Containing a household cleaning or personal care product.
"Plastic household cleaning product container or personal care product container" does not include:
Refillable household cleaning product containers or personal care product containers, such as containers that are sufficiently durable for multiple rotations of their original or similar purpose and are intended to function in a system of reuse;
Rigid plastic containers or plastic bottles that are medical devices, medical products that are required to be sterile, and nonprescription and prescription drugs, dietary supplements as defined in RCW 82.08.0293, and packaging used for those products;
Other covered products subject to minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements; or
Liners, corks, closures, labels, and other items added externally or internally but otherwise separate from the structure of the bottle or container, other than a cap or lid.
"Plastic trash bag" means a bag that is made of noncompostable plastic, is at least 0.70 mils thick, and is designed and manufactured for use as a container to hold, store, or transport materials to be discarded or recycled, and includes, but is not limited to, a garbage bag, recycling bag, lawn or leaf bag, can liner bag, kitchen bag, or compactor bag. "Plastic trash bag" does not include any compostable bags meeting the requirements of chapter 70A.455 RCW. "Plastic trash bag" does not include any reusable plastic carryout bag meeting the requirements of RCW 70A.530.020(6)(b).
"Plastic trash bag manufacturing industry" means an association that represents companies that manufacture plastic trash bags.
"Postconsumer recycled content" means the content of a covered product made of recycled materials derived specifically from recycled material generated by households or by commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities in their role as end users of a product that can no longer be used for its intended purpose. "Postconsumer recycled content" includes returns of material from the distribution chain.
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"Producer" means the following person responsible for compliance with minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements under this chapter for a covered product sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into this state:
If the covered product is sold with the manufacturer's own brand or lacks identification of a brand, the producer is the person who manufactures the covered product;
If the covered 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 covered 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 covered product has agreed to accept responsibility under this chapter; or
If there is no person described in (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection over whom the state can constitutionally exercise jurisdiction, the producer is the person who imports or distributes the covered product in or into the state.
A person is the "producer" of a covered product sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into this state, as defined in (a)(i) through (iii) of this subsection, except where another person has mutually signed an agreement with a producer as defined in (a)(i) through (iii) of this subsection that contractually assigns responsibility to the person as the producer, and the person has joined a registered producer responsibility organization as the responsible producer for that covered product under this chapter.
"Producer" does not include:
Government agencies, municipalities, or other political subdivisions of the state;
Registered 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations;
De minimis producers that annually sell, offer for sale, distribute, or import in or into the country for sale in Washington
less than one ton of a single category of plastic beverage containers, plastic household cleaning and personal care containers, or plastic trash bags each year; or
iv. De minimis producers that have global gross revenue of less than $5,000,000 for the most recent fiscal year of the organization. The department shall calculate an adjusted rate to maintain the small business exemption by the rate of inflation. The adjusted rate must be calculated to the nearest cent using the consumer price index. Each adjusted rate calculated under this subsection takes effect on the following January 1st.
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"Retail establishment" means any person, corporation, partnership, business, facility, vendor, organization, or individual that sells or provides merchandise, goods, or materials directly to a customer.
"Retail establishment" includes, but is not limited to, food service businesses, grocery stores, department stores, hardware stores, home delivery services, pharmacies, liquor stores, restaurants, catering trucks, convenience stores, or other retail stores or vendors, including temporary stores or vendors at farmers markets, street fairs, and festivals.
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"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.
"Utensil" does not include plates, bowls, cups, and other products used to contain food or beverages.
"Brand" means a name, symbol, word, logo, or mark that identifies a product and attributes the product and its components, including packaging, to the brand owner of the product as the producer.
"Durable good" means a product that provides utility over an extended period of time.
"Entity" means an individual and any form of business enterprise. For purposes of calculating the de minimis producer thresholds under this chapter, a producer entity includes all legal entities that are affiliated by common ownership of 50 percent or greater, including parents, subsidiaries, and commonly owned affiliates.
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"Polyethylene terephthalate thermoform plastic container" means a clear or colored plastic container, such as a clamshell, lid, tray, egg carton, trifold, or similar rigid, nonbottle packaging, formed from sheets of extruded polyethylene terephthalate resin and used to package consumable or durable goods that reach consumers, including:
Branded and prepackaged containers that have been filled with products and sealed prior to receipt by the retail establishment, such as fresh produce, baked goods, nuts, toys, electronics, and tools;
Containers that may be filled at the point-of-sale at a retail establishment;
Unfilled containers that are sold directly;
Hinged plastic containers, commonly known as "clamshells" or "blister packaging";
Two-piece unhinged containers;
One-piece containers without lids, such as trays; and
Trifold or tent containers with one or more hinges and a flat bottom.
"Polyethylene terephthalate thermoform plastic container" does not include:
Household cleaning products or personal care products;
Polypropylene plastic tubs;
Refillable containers, such as containers that are sufficiently durable for multiple rotations of their original or similar purpose and are intended to function in a system of reuse;
A lid or seal of a different material type from plastic;
A refillable polyethylene terephthalate thermoform plastic container that ordinarily would be returned to the manufacturer to be refilled and resold;
Plastic containers that are or are used for medical devices, medical products that are required to be sterile, prescription drugs, or dietary supplements as defined in RCW 82.08.0293;
Other covered products subject to minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements under this chapter; and
Polyethylene terephthalate thermoform plastic containers accompanying a durable good when the durable good model, and the associated packaging, was designed prior to January 1, 2028.
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"Polypropylene plastic tub" means a wide mouth, rigid container used to package consumable or durable goods that reach consumers, with a maximum capacity of 50 ounces, that is:
Capable of maintaining its shape when empty;
Comprised solely of polypropylene; and
Sealed with tamper-proof film or a detachable lid capable of multiple openings and closures.
"Polypropylene plastic tub" does not include:
Household cleaning and personal care products;
Plastic containers that are or are used for medical devices, medical products that are required to be sterile, nonprescription and prescription drugs, or dietary supplements as defined in RCW 82.08.0293;
Polyethylene terephthalate thermoform plastic containers;
Single-use plastic cups made of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or polystyrene; and
Other covered products subject to minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements.
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"Single-use plastic cup" means all beverage cups that are nonsealed or sealed at point-of-sale.
Single-use plastic cups do not include: (i) Commercially or home compostable cups; (ii) expanded polystyrene cups; (iii) composite plastic-lined fiber cups; or (iv) other covered products subject to minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements.
Upon its own motion, or upon request by a solid waste collection company or a county, the commission may approve rates, charges, or services at a discount for low-income senior customers and low-income customers. Expenses and lost revenues as a result of these discounts must be included in the company's cost of service and recovered in rates to other customers.
In order to remove barriers and to expedite assistance, low-income discounts approved under this section must be provided in coordination with community-based organizations in the solid waste collection company's service territory including, but not limited to, city and county government, grantees of the department of commerce, community action agencies, and community-based nonprofit organizations. Nothing in this section may be construed as limiting the commission's authority to approve or modify tariffs authorizing low-income discounts.
Eligibility for a low-income discount rate established in this section must be established upon verification of a low-income customer's receipt of any means-tested public benefit by an organization identified in subsection (2) of this section, for which eligibility does not exceed the low-income definition set by the commission pursuant to RCW 19.405.020. The public benefits may include, but are not limited to, assistance that provides cash, housing, food, or medical care including, but not limited to, temporary assistance for needy families, supplemental security income, emergency assistance to elders, disabled, and children, supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits, public housing, federally subsidized or state-subsidized housing, the low-income home energy assistance program, veterans' benefits, and similar benefits.
Each solid waste collection company that offers a low-income discount shall conduct outreach efforts to make the low-income discounts available to eligible customers. Such outreach:
b. May be in the form of any customary and usual methods of communication or distribution including, without limitation, widely broadcast communications with customers, direct mailing, telephone calls, electronic communications, social media postings, in-person contacts, websites of the solid waste collection company, press releases, and print and electronic media, that are designed to increase access to and participation in bill assistance programs.
Outreach may include establishing an automated program of matching customer accounts with lists of recipients of the means-tested public benefit programs and, based on the results of the matching program, to presumptively offer a low-income discount rate to eligible customers so identified. However, the solid waste collection company must within 60 days of the presumptive enrollment inform such a low-income customer of the presumptive enrollment and all rights and obligations of a customer under the program, including the right to withdraw from the program without penalty.
A residential customer eligible for a low-income discount rate must receive the service on demand.
A residential customer may not be charged for initiating or terminating low-income discount rates.
A solid waste collection company is not required to make eligibility determinations for low-income rates.
The commission may adopt rules or guidance to administer and determine eligibility for discounts for low-income customers.
For the purposes of this subsection, "low-income" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 19.405.020.
(1) The hearings board shall only have jurisdiction to hear and decide appeals from the following decisions of the department, the director, local conservation districts, the air pollution control boards or authorities as established pursuant to chapter 70A.15 RCW, local health departments, the department of natural resources, the department of fish and wildlife, the parks and recreation commission, and authorized public entities described in chapter 79.100 RCW:
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.