King County’s longstanding leadership in recycling will become stronger through the recent passage of Washington’s Recycling Reform Act – a comprehensive law that modernizes the state’s recycling system and promises to slash waste while boosting recycling rates.
At the center of the legislation is a policy approach called Extended Producer Responsibility, which requires manufacturers to take responsibility for the end of life of the packaging they produce. The law will provide sustainable funding for recycling services, increase recycling rates, and create consistency and transparency in recycling throughout the state.
“This law is a win for King County residents, and for our climate action goals,” King County Executive Shannon Braddock said. “It will reduce waste, provide sustainable funding for residential recycling in King County, and make recycling services more equitable, ensuring all communities are empowered to take action.”
Despite having some of the nation’s highest recycling rates, King County’s recycling figures have stagnated over the past decade because of the increasing volume and variety of packaging material being manufactured and sold to consumers. This increase in packaging has also made recycling more costly while reducing trust in the system. The Recycling Reform Act addresses many of these issues.
Extended Producer Responsibility for paper and packaging was identified as a priority action in the Solid Waste Division 2019 Solid Waste Management Comprehensive Plan and Re+ plan – our approach to creating a more sustainable, equitable, and waste-free King County – and will support the goals of the county’s Strategic Climate Action Plan.
“King County has been supportive of a statewide Extended Producer Responsibility legislation for several years,” said Rebecca Singer, director of the King County Solid Waste Division. “Not only will this new law improve our recycling rates, but it will also increase access to recycling services and provide more data and transparency about our recycling system.”
Increasing diversity of packaging has reduced effectiveness of recycling
Whether you’ve been paying close attention to international news over the last decade – or maybe you’re just trying to figure out which bin your paper coffee cup should go in – you’re probably aware there are gaps in our recycling system.
More than half of all paper and packaging material in Washington ends up in the landfill. Many items – delivery boxes, drink containers, soup cans – are recyclable. If all that material were recycled, it would put about $104 million back into the statewide economy and would reduce global warming emissions by about 565,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, roughly the same as 131,000 gas-powered cars driven for a year.
These missed opportunities happen for a few reasons.
- There has been an increase in variety and complexity of packaging types. As companies develop new products, they often create new packaging. Some are easily recycled, while others, such as containers made of multiple materials, are more difficult to recycle.
- We have a patchwork, localized, recycling system. What goes in your curbside bin in Kirkland may not be accepted in Kennewick. Even King County cities have different lists of what is accepted in recycling bins.
- The system’s complexity has increased the cost of recycling services, which is passed on to residents.
- There are no incentives for producers to reduce packaging or make it more recyclable.
- Because of limited oversight, local governments often don’t know where our recycling ends up, and there are no assurances that materials are being turned into new products.
EPR is designed to bring our recycling system into the 21st century
EPR is not a new idea – there are already several statewide EPR programs in Washington that are diverting products such as electronic waste, mercury-containing light bulbs, and paint from landfills. Additionally, EPR for paper and packaging has been established in over 40 countries and a growing list of states, leading to significant increases in recycling rates.
Washington’s Recycling Reform Act requires producers to pay fees to fund collecting, sorting and processing recyclables.
“One of the biggest changes most people will notice when this law takes effect is a reduction in their monthly utility bill,” said Hannah Scholes, King County Solid Waste Division policy analyst. “By providing a sustainable funding source, we estimate that the average Washington household will save about $100 to $200 per year on their recycling bill.”
The law includes incentives for companies to reduce packaging and make packaging more recyclable and it reduces confusion by creating a consistent statewide recycling list. Producer fees will also support oversight, so we will know where materials are going and what they’re turned into. And the law requires funding for outreach to diverse communities about the new law and how to recycle right.
Once in place, the statewide benefits of the Recycling Reform Act will include:
- increased recycling rates from about 40% to 66%;
- an additional 330,000 tons of packaging and paper recycled annually;
- access to curbside recycling for 542,000 additional homes in Washington;
- funding for infrastructure and technology improvements;
- 1,650 green jobs created in the recycling industry; and,
- reduced climate change emissions by 565,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents.
The law will be rolled out in phases and will be fully implemented by 2030.
“After years of support, we’re really excited about this accomplishment,” Singer said. “We’re looking forward to King County and the state building a recycling system that’s better for our residents and better for the environment.”
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