January 2023

Programs & News

E-Cycle Washington collects 13 million pounds of electronics in 2022
In December 2022, Washington's electronics EPR program, E-Cycle Washington, collected 963,838 pounds of TVs, computers, and monitors for recycling, raising the total to 13.31 million pounds (6656 tons) for 2022, or more than 453 million pounds since program start in 2009. Electronics manufacturers include the cost of recycling their products in the cost of doing business. Washington residents can recycle TVs, computers, monitors, tablets, e-readers, and portable DVD players at no cost – find a location near you. Computer peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and printers are not included in the E-Cycle Washington EPR program.

Tobacco companies must pay for clean-up of discarded cigarettes in Spain
The new cigarette EPR program in Spain will obligate tobacco companies to pay for cleanup. Millions of toxic butts are littered each year in streets and on beaches. In 2021 the country banned smoking on 525 beaches with the hope of reducing public smoking.

EPR still top recycling issue for state policymakers, but plastics and repair laws also on the horizon
Waste Dive: "Washington’s proposed WRAP Act would enact EPR for packaging and printed paper, but also establish recycling and reuse targets, enforce "truthful labeling" of recyclable products, and require scaled levels of postconsumer recycled content for certain packaging. It also would add a bottle bill program with a 10-cent deposit for a range of containers."

Legislation

Oregon

• Update to Oregon Drug Take-Back Program: SB 411 would amend Oregon's drug take-back EPR program to add certain hospitals, medical and infectious waste incinerators to facilities at which covered drugs may be disposed.
• Modernizing Oregon E-Cycles: Legislative Concept 477 would amend the Oregon E-Cycles EPR program to increase the scope of covered electronic products and shift DEQ's role from operations to oversight.
• SB 544: establishing a program for source reduction of single-use plastic food ware and single use packaging. This bill woudl direct the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission to establish a source-reduction program for single-use plastic food ware and single-use packaging to ultimately achieve a 25% source reduction by 2030.
• HB 2770: relating to a study on the impacts of waste from solar or wind renewable energy facilities. This bill would require the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to conduct a study on the impacts of waste from solar or wind renewable energy facilities.
• SB 494: relating to a study on municipal solid waste incinerators. This bill would require the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to conduct a long-term study of how municipal solid waste incinerators affect air quality and contaminants in surrounding areas.
• SB 542: relating to a Right to Repair consumer electronic equipment.
• HB 2871: relating to recyclability claims.

Washington

• The WRAP Act: EPR for Packaging and Paper Products HB 1131 / SB 5154: the Washington Recycling and Packaging (WRAP) Act would create an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system for consumer packaging and paper products. The bill also sets minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements for different packaging materials. Finally, the bill requires producers of certain beverage containers to set up and operate a deposit return system (DRS) in order to satisfy their producer obligations.
• Battery EPR SB 5144: providing for responsible environmental management of batteries, this bill would require producers of covered batteries and battery-containing products to participate in a stewardship organization which plans and provides for battery collection and end-of-life management.
• EPR for refrigerant containing appliances HB 1164. This bill would create an EPR program to ensure responsible end-of-life management of appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and heat pumps that contain refrigerants and foams that contribute to global warming.
• Update to LightRecycle Washington HB 1185, reducing environmental impacts associated with lighting products, would phase out mercury-containing lights by 2026 and update the existing LightRecycle EPR program to include all types of lights, not just mercury containing lights. The bill would also eliminate the environmental handling fee, which funds the current stewardship program, and instead require the producers of lights covered by the stewardship program to finance the operations of the program.
• Wind turbines SB 5287, concerning a study on the recycling of wind turbine blades, would require the Washington State University Extension Energy Program to conduct a study on the feasibility of recycling wind turbine blades, including consideration of an EPR program.
• Right to Repair HB 1392 / SB 5464, promoting the fair servicing and repair of digital electronic equipment, would require manufacturers of digital electronic equipment such as computers, cell phones and tablets, to provide access to parts, tools, and repair information about their products, which could make it easier for independent repair shops and others to repair items.
• HB 1033, evaluating compostable product usage in Washington, would require the Dept. of Ecology to contract with a facilitator to convene a stakeholder advisory committee to make recommendations on standards for managing compostable products such as compostable bags, food containers, and serviceware to address contamination in composting facilities.
• HB 1085, reducing plastic pollution, would prohibit the use of expanded or extruded plastic foam overwater structures such as docks; and prohibit hotels and other lodging establishments from providing personal health or beauty products in mini plastic packaging/containers. It would also require water bottle refill stations wherever a drinking fountain is required in all new buildings to reduce single-use plastic bottles.

Events & Webinars

• Life Cycle Analysis of California mattress EPR program: February 7 webinar from Mattress Recycling Council
• Plastic bags and film recycling: February 27 webinar from WSRA
• Packaging EPR global trends: March 2 EPR master class from PSI
• EPR for Packaging & Bottle Bill Programs: How Can They Coexist? April 13 webinar from NERC / NEWMOA
• Washington State Recycling Association (WSRA) annual conference: May 21-24, 2023 in Yakima

Engage with the Northwest Product Stewardship Council
Add your voice and join the Northwest Product Stewardship Council (NWPSC) as an Associate or Community member.
Follow the NWPSC on Twitter (@StewardshipNW) for product stewardship information from Washington, Oregon and elsewhere.

 

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The Northwest Product Stewardship Council (NWPSC) is a coalition of government agencies in Washington and Oregon working on solid waste, recycling, resource conservation, environmental protection, public health and other issues. Together with non-government agencies, businesses and individuals, we form a network that supports product stewardship and extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies and programs. For more information, contact info@productstewardship.net or visit us at www.ProductStewardship.net.

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