Environment (Recycling)

in committee · Washington · House Jan 19, 2026

HB 2284: Reducing litter.

HB 2284 creates a state task force to develop recommendations for reducing litter in Washington, requiring input from agencies like Ecology, Transportation, and industry groups (including retailers, tourism, and beverage producers). It directly affects retail businesses by amending carryout bag rules: banning single-use plastic bags, requiring paper bags to contain 40% recycled content, and imposing fees (8-12 cents) for paper or thin plastic reusable bags. The bill also mandates that reusable plastic bags meet specific durability standards (125 uses) and recycled content requirements (20% until 2022). The task force must submit final recommendations by November 2027, focusing on reducing litter at public sites and addressing common litter types like cigarette butts.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans single-use plastic bags, mandates 40% recycled content in paper bags, and creates task force for litter reduction - directly advancing pollution control and environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 15, 2026

HB 2233: Reducing environmental impacts associated with bags provided to customers at retail establishments.

Washington State's HB 2233 prohibits retail stores from providing single-use plastic carryout bags made of film plastic (under 10 mils thick) starting January 1, 2021. Instead, stores must offer compliant paper bags containing recycled content or nonwood renewable fiber (like wheat straw), with a pass-through charge for these bags to encourage reusable bag use - exempting customers using state assistance programs. The bill directly affects retail establishments (including grocery stores, farmers markets, and online vendors) and their customers who purchase bags. Its goal is to reduce plastic waste, litter, marine pollution, and resource burdens by shifting to more sustainable bag options.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits single-use plastic bags, mandates recycled/renewable fiber bags to reduce plastic pollution and waste per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 6156: Concerning postconsumer recycled content requirements for plastic products.

SB 6156 requires minimum levels of postconsumer recycled content (PCRC) in specific plastic products: trash bags, household cleaning and personal care product containers, and beverage containers. It directly affects manufacturers of these products, with exemptions for items like food-contact packaging, medical products, and hazardous material containers. The bill includes a small business exemption for producers with under $5 million in annual revenue (adjusted for inflation) and aims to reduce plastic waste while strengthening the recycled plastics market. Key provisions set environmental goals by decreasing virgin plastic use and supporting recycling infrastructure, without specifying exact recycled content percentages.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates minimum recycled content in plastic products to reduce waste and pollution, directly advancing conservation and pollution control goals per bill's requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hazardous Materials Recycling Waste Management

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 22, 2026

SB 6273: Concerning accountability for waste tire removal funds.

SB 6273 requires Washington’s Department of Ecology to publicly list all known unauthorized tire piles on its website, including location, duration, tire count, environmental risks, and cleanup timelines. It mandates the department to report annual tire recycling rates, authorized storage sites, and state/local cleanup efforts funded by a $5-per-tire fee (increased from $1 in 2025). The law aims to increase transparency about waste tire cleanup priorities and fund allocation for communities with the most severe tire pile problems. This directly affects the public, legislators, and local governments seeking to address tire waste through accessible data.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases $5-per-tire fee to fund waste tire cleanup programs, directly advancing fiscal management for environmental services.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires public listing of tire piles, mandates cleanup reporting, and funds recycling via increased fee - directly addresses pollution control and environmental protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

Track

in committee · Washington · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 2301: Concerning extended producer responsibility requirements associated with paint.

HB 2301 requires paint manufacturers in Washington to manage leftover architectural paint (interior/exterior paint sold in 5-gallon containers or less) through a statewide stewardship program. The bill mandates manufacturers to develop programs focused on reducing waste, promoting reuse, recycling, and proper disposal of leftover paint, following a specific waste hierarchy (reduce > reuse > recycle > disposal). Paint retailers may voluntarily collect leftover paint, and a "stewardship assessment" fee would be added to paint purchases to fund the program, shifting disposal costs from local governments to producers. This directly affects paint manufacturers and consumers purchasing architectural paint, while aiming to reduce landfill waste and environmental risks.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates paint manufacturers to reduce waste via reuse/recycling programs, aligning with environmental protection through waste hierarchy (reduce > reuse > recycle > disposal).92% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling Waste Management

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 6271: Concerning mattress producer responsibility organizations.

SB 6271 requires mattress producers (including brands, manufacturers, and importers) in Washington State to fund and manage recycling programs for discarded mattresses, shifting responsibility from taxpayers to the industry. The bill mandates that producers join or create a "producer responsibility organization" (PRO) that implements a stewardship program following a priority hierarchy: waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and then other disposal methods only after higher options are exhausted. The PRO must track mattresses from collection to final disposition, maintain detailed records, ensure worker safety, and use environmentally sound practices like separating recyclable materials (metal, foam, wood) instead of landfilling. This law directly affects mattress producers, distributors, and recyclers, aiming to reduce landfill use (currently 95% of mattresses) and illegal dumping by increasing recycling rates.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates industry-funded mattress recycling via PROs, prioritizing reuse/recycling over disposal - directly reduces landfill waste and pollution per environmental protection indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling Waste Management

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 19, 2026

SB 6219: Repealing the pollution prevention planning requirements under chapter 70A.214 RCW.

This bill repeals Washington's requirement for businesses to create pollution prevention plans under chapter 70A.214 RCW. It directly affects businesses that previously submitted these plans and the Department of Ecology, which managed the program. The legislature states the planning requirement is now obsolete, adding unnecessary administrative costs without improving waste reduction, as other existing environmental programs already incentivize lower hazardous waste output. The repeal eliminates this burden while maintaining current waste reduction efforts.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals mandatory pollution prevention plans, eliminating a regulatory requirement that aimed to reduce hazardous waste, thus weakening environmental protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hazardous Materials Recycling

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SB 6092: Concerning fair treatment of waste to energy facilities under the climate commitment act.

SB 6092 creates a specific allowance for Washington State's only waste-to-energy facility under the climate cap-and-invest program. It grants the facility "no cost" emissions allowances equal to 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions for the first two compliance periods (starting 2027), then 97% for the third period, and declines by 3% each subsequent period. This policy directly affects only the state's single waste-to-energy plant, treating it equivalently to other waste management systems under the climate law. The allowances are calculated based on the facility's annual emissions reports and adjusted to ensure compliance with the state's climate program requirements.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill grants free emissions allowances to Washington's only waste-to-energy facility, protecting its operation as a renewable energy source under climate program. This directly supports renewable energy production by reducing compliance costs for a...85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentGrants free emissions allowances to a waste-to-energy plant, reducing compliance burden and weakening climate program's emission reduction goals by allowing unmitigated emissions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change Recycling Waste Management

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 6174: Establishing producer responsibility for textiles.

SB 6174 requires textile brands and manufacturers selling apparel in Washington to fund and manage the end-of-life recycling and reuse of their products. It directly affects most clothing, footwear, and accessory brands introduced in the state (excluding small businesses with under $1 million annual global turnover, PPE, and secondhand items), making them responsible for creating collection systems. Key provisions include establishing producer responsibility organizations to handle collection, sorting, and recycling through designated sites or mail-back programs, while prioritizing repair and reuse to reduce landfill waste. The bill amends state codes to implement this system, setting penalties for noncompliance.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires textile producers to fund recycling/reuse systems, reducing landfill waste and pollution per bill's end-of-life management mandate.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling Waste Management

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 22, 2026

HB 2633: Concerning mattress producer responsibility organizations.

HB 2633 requires mattress producers (including brands, manufacturers, and importers) to fund and manage recycling programs for discarded mattresses in Washington State through designated "producer responsibility organizations" (PROs). The bill creates a recycling system prioritizing reuse and recycling over landfill disposal, mandating PROs to track mattress collection, document environmental management practices, and ensure recyclers follow safety and documentation standards. It directly affects mattress producers, recyclers, and local waste management systems by shifting the financial and operational responsibility for mattress end-of-life handling from taxpayers to the industry. The law revises state recycling laws to reduce landfill waste, illegal dumping, and environmental harm while promoting recycling jobs.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates mattress recycling over landfill disposal, prioritizes reuse, and requires PROs to track environmental management, directly reducing waste and promoting resource conservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling Waste Management

Track