Washington’s Department of Ecology gears up to implement the state’s new EPR-driven residential program. | Dee Karen / Shutterstock
The Washington Recycling Reform Act, passed by the legislature in 2025, is designed to improve the state’s residential recycling system. The law creates an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for residential packaging and paper products.
Producers of these products are required to join and fund a nonprofit Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) that will work with local governments and solid waste service providers to roll out the program by 2030.
Producers of residential packaging and paper products will be responsible for the end-of-life management of their products. Using funds provided by producers, the PRO will invest in recycling system improvements including expanded access for curbside recycling and more convenient drop off locations. Starting in 2030, the PRO will reimburse at least 90% of the recycling system cost to service providers who collect and process residential packaging and paper products. The PRO will annually report on the program and must meet the performance targets established in their approved plan.
The law requires harmonized lists of recyclable materials to be accepted in programs throughout the state. Facilities that sort and process collected recyclables must ensure materials go to responsible end markets. Statewide collection lists will be finalized by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) to allow people to recycle the same materials everywhere in the state. PRO funding enables collection of those items regardless of location or distance from recycling markets.
Ecology is implementing the Recycling Reform Act in three phases over the next five years: Phase 1, Registration and Assessments: Ecology will begin rulemaking, establish the advisory council, and start work on several contracted studies. Service providers and the PRO will register with Ecology annually starting in 2026. By 2027, Ecology will publish the statewide collection lists and two needs assessments.
Phase 2, Program Development: Ecology will adopt rules and the PRO will submit a draft program plan for advisory council and Ecology review. Ecology will contract for an economic analysis of the draft PRO plan. The legislature will consider the draft plan and economic analysis. Ecology will approve the PRO plan and the PRO will roll out the packaging reuse grant program. After March 2029, producers who are not members of the PRO cannot sell their products in Washington.Phase 3, Program Implementation: Residents will receive increased access and reduced costs for recycling services. The PRO will reimburse service providers, invest in infrastructure improvements, and submit annual program reports for advisory council and Ecology review. Ecology will ensure the PRO program meets the requirements of the law and complete additional program studies.
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