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WashingtonSB 52842025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Improving Washington's solid waste management outcomes.

Sponsored By: Liz Lovelett (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

36 provisions identified: 12 benefits, 8 costs, 16 mixed.

More homes get curbside recycling

Beginning January 1, 2030, homes with curbside garbage service must have curbside recycling for materials on Ecology’s residential list. This includes single-family homes and apartment buildings, and service must meet state standards. Counties and cities must update their waste plans before then; otherwise, Ecology’s model amendment applies. Counties can adopt an ordinance requiring drop-off service instead in qualifying rural areas. Those areas must be state-regulated, designated rural in the county plan, and have lacked curbside recycling on January 1, 2025.

Large recycling facilities must protect worker pay

Program plans must require sorting facilities handling more than 25,000 tons of covered materials yearly to follow worker compensation rules. Beginning October 1, 2028, covered employers must provide wages and benefits at least equal to applicable collective-bargaining rates. The nearest county’s equivalent applies when needed. Benefits include employer contributions for medical coverage, pensions, paid leave, and apprenticeship programs. The Department of Labor and Industries enforces compliance; prevailing parties in enforcement actions can recover attorney fees.

Recycling workers gain enforceable pay standards

Beginning October 1, 2028, workers at recovery facilities handling at least 25,000 tons of covered materials yearly must receive industry-standard compensation. The standard follows wages and usual benefits in a collective bargaining agreement for similar work in the county. The higher rate applies when multiple agreements exist; otherwise, the geographically closest county’s rate applies. Employers not providing usual benefits must pay the full industry-standard rate as wages. Covered workers can use existing state wage enforcement procedures.

Residents get statewide recycling drop-off options

Ecology must create statewide recycling and composting lists by October 1, 2026, and update them within 30 days of plan approval. The lists identify materials suitable for residential recycling, composting, public-place collection, or alternative collection. Approved plans must provide year-round statewide collection for each material on the alternative list, including at least one drop-off site per county. Service levels must reflect population, density, and city or town class. Programs must use responsible markets, provide outreach, set targets, and measure results; later needs assessments must check their performance.

Producers face recycling membership and deadlines

During the first plan period, Ecology can register only one producer organization, except that individual producers can register themselves. Other producers must join the organization Ecology selects. Beginning March 1, 2029, producers cannot introduce covered materials if they lack both good-standing membership and a submitted individual plan. Approval of first plans submitted by October 1, 2028 cannot take effect before the 2029 regular legislative session adjourns. Ecology’s review continues during that session; afterward, plans can be implemented unless the Legislature takes action.

Producers fund recycling through annual fees

Registered producer organizations can charge cost-covering member fees before plan approval and must collect annual fees after approval. Fees use prior-year material amounts and program costs; listed-material fees must match their share of costs. Fees reward preferable designs, reuse, and reduced use of unlisted materials; reused materials are charged only when first entering the market. Fees fund program duties and a prudent reserve, while extra revenue must improve outcomes or reduce producer fees. Program fees cannot fund lobbying or political advocacy that requires state or federal campaign-law reporting.

Sellers face penalties for noncompliant packaging

Sellers cannot distribute covered materials from producers that do not participate in the program or otherwise violate its rules. Ecology can assess a penalty for continued sales 60 days after receipt of a written warning. The penalty is twice the value of materials sold in violation or $500, whichever is greater. Ecology must waive it if the seller proves sales or distribution stopped within 30 days after assessment.

Producers pay for packaging waste programs

Producers of covered packaging and paper must appoint a producer responsibility organization by January 1, 2026. After July 1, 2026, they must stay in a registered organization or register to run an individual plan. Producers must pay fees for statewide waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, and collection and processing services. Plans must rely solely on producer fees, except for refundable consumer deposits tied to refill, reuse, or recycling. The law sets no fee amount and does not directly require households to pay a program fee.

More household recycling with material limits

Producer plans must require providers to accept all covered materials on Ecology’s applicable collection list. Providers offering household garbage collection must also offer household recycling, except in areas covered by the specified county ordinance. Residential recycling cannot collect materials not listed as suitable. A limited-area, limited-time pilot can collect unlisted covered materials and receive reimbursement when the provider, responsible government, and producer organization agree. Providers must follow state waste, transportation, health, and safety rules.

Producer payments reshape household recycling bills

Producer organizations must reimburse providers that meet approved plan standards for covered services, excluding exempt materials. Minimum payments cover 50% of net costs by February 15, 2030; 75% by February 15, 2031; and 90% by February 15, 2032 and thereafter, with rates updated annually. Residential curbside reimbursements must reach customers through applicable rate cuts or credits. Providers keep material-sale revenue unless they agree otherwise, and can charge for costs reimbursements leave uncovered. The Utilities and Transportation Commission must review reimbursements and include known, measurable approved waste-plan and qualifying curbside recycling costs in regulated rates.

Businesses face packaging duties and exceptions

Packaging duties fall on manufacturers, brand owners, importers, first distributors, publishers, e-commerce shippers, or franchisors, depending on the sales channel. Businesses can transfer duties through a signed agreement, written certification, and the receiving business’s membership in a registered organization. Agricultural producers selling under another person’s brand and beverage distributors cannot receive that transfer. Producers and organizations can seek temporary health or safety exclusions for raw-meat packaging, poison-prevention packaging, or packaging constrained by federal rules. They must apply one year before submitting a plan, document feasibility, risks, and progress toward program goals, and receive a decision within 90 days.

Recycling organizations need operating and backup plans

Organizations must submit five-year plans by October 1, 2028, covering goals, fees, budgets, services, infrastructure, reimbursements, outreach, and service gaps. Drafts must reach the advisory council at least 60 days earlier, and organizations must address its comments. Approved plans must start by January 1, 2030, or six months after approval, whichever is later; initial plans cannot take effect before the 2029 legislative session adjourns. Organizations must collect fees, remove producers whose compliance cannot be restored, reimburse providers at least monthly unless otherwise agreed, and report annually each July 1 starting in 2031. Backup plans must explain how another entity continues work during expiration, replacement-plan review, shutdown, or inability to operate; no dedicated funds are required before backup implementation.

Recycling programs face targets and corrections

Ecology must set statewide targets and deadlines for reuse, returns, responsible-market recycling, composting, plastic reduction, and recycled content. It must review requirements every five years, and organizations must meet them through material-specific plan targets based on needs assessments. Compostable materials are exempt from recycled-content requirements when their properties or health and safety needs prevent that content. After missing a target, organizations must explain why and propose operating changes within 90 days of filing their annual report. Amendments require council review and Ecology approval; Ecology can also require changes for compliance or revise statewide requirements when government nonparticipation causes failure.

Some packaging escapes producer recycling rules

Excluded products include specified medical, animal-health, and regulated packaging, noncompostable raw-meat film, refillable liquefied petroleum gas packaging, and other listed categories. Certain commercial materials qualify only when kept out of residential recycling and recycled at a responsible market. Through December 31, 2029, they need a 65% state recycling rate for three straight years, or 65% reuse or recycling when directly producer-managed. Beginning January 1, 2030, they need at least a 70% annual recycling or producer-managed reuse or recycling rate, measured every two years. Producers with temporary product exclusions must report directly to Ecology using its form and required producer-organization reporting information.

Residents protected from new disposal penalties

Individuals and residents cannot receive penalties under this chapter for improperly disposing of covered materials at home or elsewhere in noncommercial settings. This protection does not cover commercial disposal. Penalties under other laws are not affected.

Customers share some recycling sale revenue

The allowance to keep up to 50% of recycling sale revenue excludes covered materials collected under an approved producer plan. For eligible materials, collection companies need a locally certified plan showing how retained money increases recycling. The plan must match the local solid waste plan. Revenue companies do not retain must go to residential customers.

Recycling reimbursements lower eligible customer bills

Providers must pass applicable curbside recycling reimbursements to every eligible customer through lower rates or credits. They must show customers a price that subtracts the reimbursement. Minimum reimbursement covers 50% of net costs by February 15, 2030, 75% by February 15, 2031, and 90% by February 15, 2032, and thereafter. Funded providers must document service volumes, meet plan standards, register annually, submit invoices, and use responsible markets. Organizations must offer outside mediation for reimbursement disputes; the law states no individual household credit amount.

Small producers can avoid recycling obligations

Government entities and registered 501(c)(3) charities and 501(c)(4) social welfare groups are excluded from producer obligations. Small producers qualify only if they introduced less than one ton of covered materials in their most recent fiscal year. They must also have global gross revenue below $5 million, excluding on-premises alcohol sales. Qualifying agricultural employers can instead use Washington revenue below $5 million from consumer sales of their branded agricultural commodities. Beginning January 1, 2031, the $5 million limits adjust annually for inflation.

Alternative recycling credits require public safeguards

Alternative recycling counts toward goals only after Ecology’s approval and at least 60 days of public review. Approval requires environmental, human-health, service-gap, market, and certification standards. The process cannot burn covered plastics, turn them into fuel, or recover their energy. Ecology must stop counting materials when a facility no longer meets the requirements. It can request updated compliance information no more often than every five years.

Residents can review recycling plans and results

Each producer organization must maintain an accessible public website with plans, assessments, reports, education resources, and a provider directory. Member producer and covered-brand lists must be updated at least monthly. Ecology must open annual reports for public comment for at least 30 days and review complete reports within 120 days. It must explain report denials and notify organizations when reports show their plans are failing requirements. Organizations with denied reports must submit revised reports within 60 days.

Recycling receipts fund oversight and grants

The responsible recycling management account receives program receipts and funds Ecology’s implementation, administration, and enforcement work. It also funds needed Labor and Industries work enforcing recovery-facility pay standards. Spending follows state allotment procedures but needs no separate appropriation. Program penalties and penalties under the listed recycled-content laws go to the recycling enhancement account. That account can fund only local-government grants supporting solid waste and financial assistance programs.

Reuse projects get funding and bidding opportunities

Beginning in 2029, producer organizations must collectively provide at least $5 million annually for competitive reuse assistance. The minimum rises each January 1 with the consumer price index for urban wage earners. Ecology must require more funding and spending when needed to meet reuse and return targets. Government, tribal, nonprofit, and private groups can apply; selection considers benefits, cost-effectiveness, and distressed or overburdened communities, with advisory council input. Infrastructure investments must use publicly posted competitive bidding and favor existing Washington facilities and service providers.

Producer recycling goals face stricter measurement

Producer plans must use required methods to measure recycling, plastic reduction, reuse, and recycled content; other target methods need Ecology’s approval. Targets must show ongoing improvement in environmental and human-health effects. Ecology can require outside certification only when readily available, suitable, and reasonably priced, with at least one year’s notice. Switching virgin material to postconsumer recycled content can meet no more than 8% of a plastic source-reduction target. Ecology’s sliding-scale formula applies, including to qualifying content used under Washington’s separate recycled-content law.

Producers face daily fines for violations

Ecology can fine producers and producer organizations up to $1,000 per violation per day, or $10,000 for repeat violations. Producers must first receive a certified-mail notice and remain noncompliant 60 days after written notification before penalties apply. Organizations can respond to or challenge written findings before Ecology orders additional corrective action, plan changes, continued operation, or reports. Ecology can also revoke plan approval and require use of a backup plan. Collected penalties go to Washington’s Recycling Enhancement Account.

Producers face recycling infrastructure ownership limits

Producers and producer organizations generally cannot own any share of infrastructure used to meet program duties. Producers can keep ownership held before the section’s effective date if they fully disclose it to their organization. Organizations can invest after the required bidding process when no service provider bids. Exceptions cover infrastructure used solely for reuse financial assistance or needed for individual plans or alternative collection. Providing program money alone creates no ownership or control rights in the funded asset or company.

Recycling organizations pay state program fees

Producer organizations must make a one-time payment to Ecology by September 1, 2026. It covers initial state implementation costs through June 30, 2027. Annual registration fees are due each May 1 thereafter for state implementation, administration, and enforcement. A producer registered as its own organization pays Ecology’s determined amount for the added registration costs. The law does not state these fee amounts.

Recycling advisers get pay and restrictions

Eligible advisory council members can request compensation and expense reimbursement under state rules. Eligibility covers representatives of tribes, tribal or Indigenous services groups, community-based groups, and environmental nonprofits. Ecology cannot appoint state lawmakers, registered lobbyists, or employees of producers required to join a producer organization. The provided text does not state payment amounts.

Households get clearer waste and recycling guides

Producer organizations must provide accessible waste education tailored to different languages and cultures. It must explain waste reduction, refill, reuse, recycling, composting, product labels, and collection containers. Organizations must coordinate with registered providers and government bodies that choose to participate. At a local government’s request, Ecology or an organization can supply household guides for haulers to distribute. Regulated haulers can count reasonable delivery costs when rates are set, so those costs can affect bills.

Local governments keep recycling planning choices

Government entities do not have to join producer plans, and producer organizations cannot interfere with protected local collection powers or contracts. Government service providers can register with Ecology and receive reimbursements under the applicable rates and schedule. Cities and counties can use approved producer programs to meet residential recycling duties and replace separate contamination outreach plans. Their waste plans must now include refill and reuse education. Local recycling strategies must also address materials outside the producer program.

Producer fees support community equity reviews

Registered producer organizations must pay Ecology fees covering the solid-waste facility equity study. Future plans must consider its recommendations, including possible reimbursement changes. Ecology must periodically check whether the federal social vulnerability index remains substantially as it was on January 1, 2025. If not, Ecology must tell organizations they no longer need to reference it. Until a replacement method is adopted by rule, communities ranked 8 or higher on Washington’s environmental health disparities map count as socially vulnerable.

Recycling leaders face conflict and safety limits

Producer organizations cannot be governed by state or local elected officials, covered Ecology solid-waste employees, or representatives of bidding or contracting entities. The specified former officials and Ecology employees face a two-calendar-year lookback. Ecology can restrict access to submitted records to designated officials or the independent reviewer when confidentiality fits the law and does not harm the public interest. Ecology and producer organizations cannot impose rules that directly conflict with specified federal packaging protections, including child-resistant, food, and product-safety rules. Compatible state requirements still apply.

Bottle deposit studies require producer funding

Registered producer organizations must fund two Ecology studies of a possible statewide beverage-container deposit system. Study deliverables are due January 1, 2026, and January 1, 2027. Study costs are part of the one-time payment due September 1, 2026; the law states no total amount. Any future bottle deposit system must include a two-year transition before the current approved plan expires to avoid major operational or financial disruption. This law does not itself create a bottle deposit system.

Producer groups get limited collection flexibility

During the first plan period, producers representing most of a distinct material or packaging type can seek different collection methods by location. Petitions must arrive at least six months before statewide lists are published and justify methods other than commingled residential collection. Qualifying groups running approved alternative plans are solely responsible for the distinct material or product their plans cover. They can offset some or all producer payments only for that type. Groups must follow organization requirements unless Ecology finds a requirement unrelated to their limited work.

Recycling assessments require data with privacy safeguards

Ecology must complete a preliminary needs assessment by December 31, 2026, and a full assessment by December 31, 2027. Full assessments repeat every five years and examine services, capacity, costs, markets, outcomes, service gaps, investments, and targets. An independent contractor must consult stakeholders and publish drafts for comment at least 90 days before completion. Providers and other holders must supply needed data when Ecology requests it, but can request confidential treatment. The contractor must combine and remove identifying details from nonpublic data, while retaining location information needed to assess services.

Recycling organizations register and coordinate programs

Producer organizations must register with Ecology by March 1, 2026, and annually afterward. They must disclose member agreements, leadership, financial responsibility, and financial controls. If multiple organizations exist, they must create a coordinating body to integrate plans and reports and fairly divide reuse-program funding and administration. Activities allowed by and carried out under the law receive state antitrust exemptions and federal state-action immunity. That protection does not cover activities outside the law.

Recycling providers face reporting and market rules

Providers seeking plan reimbursement must register by January 31, 2026, and annually afterward, supplying provider, service-area, and service information. Covered sorting facilities must register and annually report materials, processing, destinations, contamination, residuals, permit violations, and labor information. Beginning in 2031, facilities must certify that each covered-material destination is a responsible market; regulated collection companies must also use responsible markets. Licensed scrap-metal facilities avoid reporting and audit duties unless they receive covered materials directly from collection services reimbursed by producer organizations. Anyone receiving an Ecology request for program implementation or enforcement must provide information they have or can reasonably obtain.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Liz Lovelett

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Bob Hasegawa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Claire Wilson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Derek Stanford

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jamie Pedersen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Javier Valdez

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jesse Salomon

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jessica Bateman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Marko Liias

    Democratic • Senate

  • Noel Frame

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rebecca Saldaña

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sharon Shewmake

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tina Orwall

    Democratic • Senate

  • Vandana Slatter

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 954 • No: 1,061

Senate vote • 4/23/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 27 • No: 21

House vote • 4/14/2025

1182 Dye Pg 1 Ln 25

Yes: 39 • No: 57 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1179 Couture Pg 1 Ln 3

Yes: 40 • No: 56 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1183 Couture Pg 3 Ln 39

Yes: 40 • No: 56 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1180 Corry Pg 9 Ln 23

Yes: 40 • No: 56 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1106 Abell Pg 13 Ln 37

Yes: 96 • No: 0 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1108 Engell Pg 13 Ln 37

Yes: 40 • No: 56 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1110 Walsh Pg 17 Ln 13

Yes: 41 • No: 55 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1103 Stuebe Pg 17 Ln 27

Yes: 42 • No: 54 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1100 Klicker Pg 47 Ln 2

Yes: 42 • No: 54 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1102 Dye Pg 47 Ln 2

Yes: 41 • No: 55 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1122 Reeves Pg 1 Ln 25

Yes: 59 • No: 36 • Other: 3

House vote • 4/14/2025

1181 Couture Pg 1 Ln 3

Yes: 41 • No: 55 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1074 Fey Pg 1 Ln 3

Yes: 47 • No: 49 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1101 Dye Pg 2 Ln 9

Yes: 40 • No: 56 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1105 Ley Pg 21 Ln 4

Yes: 40 • No: 56 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1112 Dye Pg 48 Ln 24

Yes: 40 • No: 56 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 51 • No: 45 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1104 Barnard Pg 53 Ln 33

Yes: 40 • No: 55 • Other: 3

House vote • 4/14/2025

1107 Dufault Pg 57 Ln 37

Yes: 41 • No: 55 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

1111 Walsh Pg 17 Ln 13

Yes: 40 • No: 56 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 3/7/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 27 • No: 22

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    5/17/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 316, 2025 Laws.

    5/17/2025Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    5/17/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/25/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    4/24/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    4/24/2025legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 27; nays, 21; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    4/23/2025Senate

  8. Senate concurred in House amendments.

    4/23/2025House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 51; nays, 45; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    4/14/2025Senate

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/14/2025Senate

  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.

    4/14/2025Senate

  12. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    4/10/2025Senate

  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    4/8/2025Senate

  14. Minority; without recommendation.

    4/7/2025Senate

  15. Minority; do not pass.

    4/7/2025Senate

  16. APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) but without amendment(s) by Environment & Energy.

    4/7/2025Senate

  17. APP - Executive action taken by committee.

    4/7/2025Senate

  18. Referred to Appropriations.

    4/2/2025Senate

  19. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/31/2025Senate

  20. Minority; do not pass.

    3/31/2025Senate

  21. ENVI - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    3/31/2025Senate

  22. ENVI - Executive action taken by committee.

    3/31/2025Senate

  23. First reading, referred to Environment & Energy.

    3/9/2025Senate

  24. Third reading, passed; yeas, 27; nays, 22; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    3/7/2025Senate

  25. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/7/2025Senate

Bill Text

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