Senate panel hears wide‑ranging testimony on Recycling Reform Act and proposed EPR system

Summary

SB 5284 would create an extended producer responsibility program for packaging and paper products, set statewide collection lists, and require a needs assessment. Cities and environmental groups supported shifting costs to producers, while haulers, retailers and some counties urged a thorough needs assessment and raised concerns about costs and

The Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee conducted an extensive public hearing on SB 5284, the Recycling Reform Act, which would create a statewide extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for packaging and paper products and change solid waste planning and collection requirements.

The bill would require producers of covered packaging and paper products to form or appoint a producer responsibility organization (PRO) to prepare and implement a recycling plan approved by the Department of Ecology. Ecology would develop four statewide collection lists (residential recycling, residential composting, public‑place collection and alternative/drop‑off collection) and complete a preliminary needs assessment in 2026 and a full needs assessment in 2027. The bill also directs local comprehensive solid waste plans to provide curbside source‑separated recycling collection wherever curbside garbage is provided beginning Jan. 1, 2030.

Why it matters: The proposal shifts the costs of collection and infrastructure from ratepayers and local governments to producers, aims to standardize recycling lists statewide, and would create targets and funding to build recycling and reuse infrastructure — a structural change to how Washington finances and manages…

Senate panel hears wide‑ranging testimony on Recycling Reform Act and proposed EPR system

Summary

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