On Saturday 17 May 2025, Washington state became the seventh state to require extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging when Governor Ferguson signed SB5284 – The Recycling Reform Act (RRA) into law. Although packaging EPR laws in the US are not harmonized, with the enactment of RRA Washington state came into alignment with its neighbors Oregon and California. The other states with packaging EPR laws: Colorado, Maine, Maryland, and Minnesota.
Overview:
The RRA act will change the landscape of recycling in Washington, which has inconsistent recycling rules (what can be recycled and where), and limited access (11 counties have no recycling services). The RCA requires the establishment of a statewide recycling list, and mandates the addition of curbside recycling for all households that have curbside trash service. Uniquely among west coast states, Washington does not have a bottle recycling or deposit system. The RCA covers beverage containers, but requires a review in 2029 to decide whether to continue with the RRA program or implement a separate bottle bill.
Key Deadlines:
- 1 January 2026 – Producers of covered packaging and paper products must appoint one or more PROs
- 1 March 2026 – PROs must register with the Department of Ecology
- 1 July 2026 – Producers must be approved to become or join a PRO
- 31 December 2026 – Statewide needs assessment due
- 1 March 2029 – Producers not registered with a PRO or approved to act as an independent PRO may not introduce covered PPP into the state
H2 Compliance will provide updates and insights on this and other EPR regulations as they become available. cglobal-sales@erpsas.onmicrosoft.com
Published May 20, 2025
This article was generated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence.