Update on Washington State post-consumer recycled content requirements

Feb 24, 2022
|
Written by WR Communications
|
Inside Washington Retail

Washington’s new plastics law, Chapter 70A.245 RCW calls for certain plastic packaging products to include a minimum amount of recycled plastic.

Covered products include:

  • Plastic trash bags
  • Plastic beverage bottles
  • Plastic bottles for household cleaning and personal care products

Producers registration is open

Producers of covered products that are sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into Washington must register with Ecology on or before April 1, 2022.

The Plastic Producer Registration database within the Waste Reduction Portal can be accessed through SecureAccess Washington (SAW).

For more detailed information on the registration process, visit the Plastic producer registration and reporting webpage or register for a presentation.

Online Registration Presentations

Ecology is planning four informational online public presentations about the new law. Content will include producer obligations, registration, and the rulemaking process. Each session will be the same, and there will be opportunities for questions.

Register in advance:

 Comment on workload analysis by February 28, 2022

The new law requires producers of plastic products covered under its minimum recycled content standards pay their fair share of Ecology’s costs to implement and enforce the law and develop rules. The annual workload analysis identifies these costs for the upcoming fiscal year and is what Ecology will use to make “fair share” determinations. It is available for public review and comment until February 28, 2022.

Rulemaking process for plastic packaging post-consumer recycled (PCR) content requirements

The law requires Ecology to adopt rules that further define and clarify the law to meet the requirements in the most economical and least burdensome way possible.

The rulemaking process will utilize input from a selected advisory committee and public comments to adopt final rules. The advisory committee will meet at least quarterly to gather input and concerns for the creation of the rule. Anyone may attend advisory committee meetings and provide comments.

If you are interested in joining the advisory committee, email Shannon Jones by February 28, 2022, and describe your perspective and expertise.

Communications about the Rulemaking process are shared through this e-mail subscriber list. If anyone you know might be interested, share this information with them.

What you can do right now

E-mail Shannon Jones to apply for the rule content workgroup.