Read the full story from the National Law Review.
Washington State’s Governor Jay Inslee has signed legislation that requires the Department of Ecology to submit a report to the legislature with recommendations on the management and disposal of plastic packaging. Due by October 31, 2020, the report must include:
- Amount and types of plastic packaging in the state;
- Cost of managing plastic packaging waste;
- Final disposition of all plastic packaging sold into the state;
- Costs and savings to all stakeholders of other product stewardship programs;
- Infrastructure required to manage plastic packaging;
- Contamination and sorting issues for the plastic packaging recycling stream; and
- Existing stewardship organizations/databases useful to develop a plastic waste management and disposal program in Washington State.
The report also must also include recommendations on how to meet the goals of reducing plastic packaging waste through industry initiatives or product stewardship, including:
- Achievement of 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging in all goods sold in Washington state by 2025;
- Achievement of at least 20% post-consumer recycled content in packaging by 2025; and
- Reduction of plastic packaging when possible, optimizing the use to meet the need.
