A full recycling bin at Green Lake Park in 2021. Photo: Chona Kasinger/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Washington state lawmakers are considering a major overhaul of the state’s recycling system, which would be paid for largely by companies that make single-use packaging.
Why it matters: Besides establishing a consistent statewide list for what’s recyclable and what’s not, Senate Bill 5284 would ensure that when people throw recycling in their curbside bins, the materials have somewhere to go , supporters say.
- That could prevent situations like what Seattle experienced last year, when the closure of a major glass bottle manufacturing plant disrupted glass recycling throughout Western Washington.
The big picture: Access to recycling services in Washington is spotty, with different jurisdictions accepting different items, and 11 counties having no curbside recycling at all, the state Ecology Department says .
- A measure like Senate Bill 5284, which would make private companies bankroll a system for recycling their products, could help boost Washington’s residential recycling rate from 40% to 66%, a 2023 report found.
State of play: The bill, which passed the state Senate last month and cleared a House committee on Monday, would require a producer-funded recycling system to be up and running in Washington by 2030…