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Zero Waste Action

Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Zero Waste Washington

October 12, 2025

Heather Trim

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Zero Waste Washington

Works to make trash obsolete

Three strategies:

Help pass laws
Conduct research
Do pilot projects

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Producer responsibility

Innovation

Excess packaging

Recycling

Reuse/Repair

Plastic pollution

Seven Focus Areas

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2018

Secure Drug

Takeback Act

:

(HB 1047 – Rep Strom Peterson)

10 years in the making

First in the nation

Program started November 2020!

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2018

Secure Drug

Takeback Act

:

(HB 1047 – Rep Strom Peterson)

10 years in the making

First in the nation

Program started November 2020!

https://med-project.org

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Concerning

paint stewardship

(HB 1652)

Program started

April 2021!

2019

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Program products

Source: American Paintings Association

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Program products

www.paintcare.org

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2023

Battery recycling (SB5144 / HB1553)

Sen. Derek Stanford and Rep. Chipalo Street

Best in the nation

Program will start in 2026

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Overview

What you can do

Legislative action

Other zero waste activities

www.usecoproducts.com/World-Centric-TO-SC-U15B-p/world-centric-to-sc-u15b.htm

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Don’t buy it

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Bring your own

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Recycle carefully

www.literoflightusa.org/solar-power-in-washington-state/

https://pamplinmedia.com

https://how2recycle.info/sdo

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https://how2recycle.info/sdo

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Treat your clothes well

www.literoflightusa.org/solar-power-in-washington-state/

https://pamplinmedia.com

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The Human Brain May Contain as Much as a Spoon’s Worth of Microplastics, New Research Suggests Sarah Kuta - February 4, 2025

www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-human-brain-may-contain-as-much-as-a-spoons-worth-of-microplastics-new-research-suggests-180985995/#:~:text=Their%20findings%20suggest%20microplastic%20levels,Washington%20Post's%20Shannon%20Osaka.

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The Human Brain May Contain as Much as a Spoon’s Worth of Microplastics, New Research Suggests Sarah Kuta - February 4, 2025

www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-human-brain-may-contain-as-much-as-a-spoons-worth-of-microplastics-new-research-suggests-180985995/#:~:text=Their%20findings%20suggest%20microplastic%20levels,Washington%20Post's%20Shannon%20Osaka.

Their findings suggest microplastic levels in the brain have grown by roughly 50% over the last 8 years. This increase makes sense in the context of plastic production, which doubles every 10 to 15 years, reports the Washington Post’s Shannon Osaka.

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Legislative update

2025

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2025

Recycling Reform Act (SB 5284)
Right to repair – electronics and appliances (HB 1483)
Right to repair – wheelchair (SB 5680)
Organics (food and yard waste) (HB 1497)
Refrigerant gases (HB 1462)
PFAs in biosolids (SB 5033)
Solid waste permits (HB 1154)
Litter penalty (HB 1293)
Drug take-back program fix (HB 1422)
Lead in cookware (SB 5628)
Solar panel recycling program (SB 5175)

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2020-2021 Washington Statewide Waste Characterization Study

20

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Overall Statewide Disposed Waste Stream Stream Composition by Material Class (2020): Packaging

1.2 million tons

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Recycling Reform Act (SB 5284)

Sen. Liz Lovelett and Rep. Liz Berry

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WASHINGTON

OREGON

MONTANA

CALIFORNIA

ARIZONA

WYOMING

NEVADA

IDAHO

UTAH

COLORADO

NEW

MEXICO

TEXAS

OKLAHOMA

NORTH

DAKOTA

SOUTH

DAKOTA

NEBRASKA

KANSAS

LOUISIANA

ARKANSAS

MISSOURI

IOWA

MINNESOTA

WISCONSIN

ILLINOIS

INDIANA

MICHIGAN

OHIO

KENTUCKY

TENNESSEE

FLORIDA

MISSISSIPPI

ALABAMA

GEORGIA

SOUTH

CAROLINA

NORTH

CAROLINA

VIRGINIA

WEST

VIRGINIA

PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

NEW

YORK

MAINE

ALASKA

HAWAII

DELAWARE

NEW

JERSEY

VERMONT

NEW

HAMPSHIRE

MASSACHUSETTS

CONNECTICUT

RHODE

ISLAND

U.S. states passing this policy

Adopted in 2021

Introduced in 2021/22

Adopted in 2022

1

7!!!!

6

5

4

3

2

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Producer Responsibility

Making companies responsible for what happens to their products at the end of the life cycle.

I want to ask- is extended producer responsibility a concept that people have heard of before?

Right- as I said, the main idea is to make brand owners and manufacturers financially responsible for the end of life of their products. Extended Producer responsibility systems are widespread across the globe and have been used for decades. In fact, the states of ME and OR just passed EPR programs in 2021. We’re hoping that WA can be next.

In Washington, the system would establish a set of graduated fees based on how readily the packaging can be reused, recycled, or composted. The more environmentally friendly the product is, the lower the fee. The fees then pay for the collection and processing of recyclable materials. (this is managed by the PRO, a non-profit organization that assumes the responsibility regarding collection and recycling of products).

First, though, let’s look ahead--what does the ideal solution look like? How can we rebuild the system into something that makes sense--one that’s affordable, reduces waste, and protects wildlife? The great news is that this system already exists, and it’s closeby, in British Columbia. It’s called Extended Producer Responsibility, and the concept is simple: Corporations are responsible for the stuff they put out into the world. In BC, businesses pay into the province’s recycling program in order to recycle the products they make and sell there. And, as a result, BC recycles over 80% of their plastic, compared to the US’ 9%. EPR systems encourage producers to choose products that are easier to recycle and more environmentally friendly while taking the cost and responsibility off of consumers.

This is unfortunately still a long shot, even in a notoriously eco-friendly state like Washington. This is at the top of our legislative agenda looking ahead to next year, and we’re already starting to see industry representatives and other organizations join forces to talk about bringing this to our state soon. But, SB 5022 is great incremental progress, and with the help of citizens like all of you, we can make it a reality!

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Access to recycling across the state

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One recycling list across the state

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Ensure responsible recycling

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Recycling Reform Act Timeline

Here is a visual representation of many key tasks and due dates for Ecology, The Advisory Council, the PRO, and Service Providers

I’m not going to read through them all, but I’ll highlight a few.

Ecology has already begun work on four studies including one that models and gathers community input on a recycling refund system, also known as a deposit return or bottle bill. We are in the final stages of hiring a consultant to help create the statewide recycling lists and perform two needs assessments. We should be able to announce who that consultant is within the next few weeks and get started on that work. And we plan to start rulemaking in January.

Service providers will have to register with Ecology by January 31^st of next year. We are currently building that system and hope to have it ready by December.

The PRO will need to register with Ecology by March of next year.

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SB 5284 Recycling

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www.techspot.com/news/73630-california-enters-right-repair-movement-new-proposal.html

Right to Repair (SB 5423 / HB 1483)

Sen. Derek Stanford and Rep. Mia Gregerson

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Right to Repair – wheelchairs (SB 5680 / HB 1826)

Sen. Drew Hansen and Rep. Mia Gregerson

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SB 5680 Wheelchair Right to Repair

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2025

Recycling Reform Act (SB 5284)
Right to repair – electronics and appliances (HB 1483)
Right to repair – wheelchair (SB 5680)
Organics (food and yard waste) (HB 1497)
Refrigerant gases (HB 1462)
PFAs in biosolids (SB 5033)
Solid waste permits (HB 1154)
Litter penalty (HB 1293)
Drug take-back program fix (HB 1422)
Lead in cookware (SB 5628)
Solar panel recycling program (SB 5175)

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2026!

Textile recycling (HB 1420)
Mattress recycling (HB 1901)
Plastic Bag Ban
PCR (post-consumer recycled content)
EV batteries (HB 1550)
Bottle bill (SB 5502 / HB 1607)
Drug take-back program funding
Litter
Balloon release
Cannabis packaging
Household hazardous waste

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Other action

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Toxic Chemicals in Products: Swap Out

www.generalkinematics.com/blog/what-are-pfas/

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Summer SWAP OUT EVENTS

June/July 2025

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Farm waste assessment and pilot

www.fwagsw.org.uk/farm-plastics

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Bulk milk

project

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https://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/solid-waste/Programs/green-schools/food-waste-milk-dispenser-analysis-Auburn-SD.pdf

Auburn School District

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Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste study

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Thank You!

Heather Trim

heather@zerowastewashington.org

Zero Waste Washington

www.zerowastewashington.org