Producer Responsibility for Packaging in Washington

THE PROBLEM.
Worldwide, we produce almost 400 million tons of plastic waste
annually—and nearly half of all plastic produced is intended to be used just once and thrown away. Washingtonians experience this problem first-hand with plastic and other materials littering our neighborhoods, shorelines, and parks, filling landfills to capacity, and harming wildlife. And it doesn’t stop with plastics, we are inundated with excess packaging, especially single-use items.

Washington’s recycling systems have not been able to keep up with the influx of plastic and paper packaging flooding into our homes and environment.

• In Washington, more than 50% of all consumer packaging and paper products are landfilled or incinerated, wasting an estimated $104 million in valuable materials.
• Only 17% of plastic packaging waste is actually recycled.
• Some Washingtonians’ recycling service bills have increased more than 30% over the past seven years.
• Recycling access varies across the state and many Washington residents must pay extra for recycling services. Residents in 11 counties have no access to curbside recycling services at all.

PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY WORKS.
Companies have been complying with producer responsibility programs for decades in other countries around the globe- like Canada, countries in the European Union, and others- with great results. In the last two years, California, Colorado, Maine, and Oregon have passed producer responsibility programs for packaging and paper and more states are considering putting their own programs in place.

MAJOR BENEFITS FOR WASHINGTONIANS
Establishing a producer-funded recycling program for packaging will:

• Incentivize producers to use reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging.
• Provide universal recycling services for Washingtonians: All residents who currently have curbside garbage pickup will receive curbside recycling service.
• Reduce pollution causing climate change: Higher use of recycled content in packaging materials means fewer emissions and less energy use compared to producing virgin paper, plastic, metal, and glass packaging.
• Reduce confusion and contamination by developing a clear common list of what can be recycled statewide and ensuring that product labels reflect actual recyclability in WA.
• Reduce packaging and increase reuse. Targets will be developed for increased recycling rates as well as reuse and refill.
• Support Washington’s economy by building local supply chains and recycling businesses and creating new, green jobs.