Photo by Washington State Standard
SB 5284, the extended producer responsibility (EPR) bill for packaging, sponsored by Senator Liz Lovelett (D-40), appears to have stalled in the House. The bill, which passed the Senate on a mostly party-line vote (27-22), has yet to be scheduled for a vote in the House Environment and Energy Committee.
A public hearing on March 17 drew testimony both in support and opposition. New estimates from California’s EPR program place costs at over $36 billion, raising concerns about potential costs for Washington. Notably, no other state has fully implemented such a program.
While SB 5284 includes a needs assessment, it also adopts a comprehensive EPR packaging recycling program. A phased approach, conducting a county-by-county needs assessment and a thorough cost-benefit analysis while learning from Oregon and California’s challenges, could be a more prudent path forward. Both states have approved similar legislation but are struggling with implementation.
WR represents members with diverse perspectives. Some fully support the bill, others oppose it as written, and many seek modifications.
A key question remains: Will legislative leadership classify SB 5284 as Necessary to Implement the Budget (NTIB)? If so, the bill would be exempt from standard cutoffs and can be considered until the final Operating Budget is approved, typically in late April.
WR will continue engaging with members, stakeholders, and legislators on this important issue. Even if SB 5284 is not adopted this session, we anticipate it will resurface in the future.
