April 2023

Programs & News

Washington Passes Battery EPR Legislation  
Washington’s bill contains all the elements of a successful EPR program and will serve as a foundation for other states to consider EPR for batteries. Washington’s future EPR program will include a broad range of both single-use and rechargeable batteries – starting with portable batteries and from 2029 medium-format batteries up to 25 pounds. Washington’s bill has passed both chambers and is now on the Governor’s desk. Read more.

Oregon’s Bill to Revamp their E-Cycles Program Advances in Legislature 
Oregon’s E-Cycles amendment would make some critical changes to the current electronics recycling program, including expanding the list of covered electronic devices, setting new standards for locations of collection sites, and establishing new requirements for PROs to sign contracts with permitted waste facilities. 

Why America Needs a National Bottle Bill 
A national deposit return system, often called a bottle bill, would have various and widespread benefits, including increased recycling rates, create jobs in the collection, processing, and transportation of recycled materials and products, significantly reduce litter, engage the public, and save taxpayers money, and finally would spur innovation in the recycling sector. Of the ten states with deposit return systems already, they have half the amount of roadway litter and 30% less waterway litter. A national bottle bill benefits communities, businesses, and the planet. 

California, Colorado, Oregon Officials Talk Packaging EPR Implementation 
The four states leading the way in the U.S. with packaging EPR – Maine, Oregon, Colorado, and California – are working through their rulemaking and encouraging collaboration and harmonization in programs where it’s statutorily possible. In a recent webinar hosted by AMERIPEN, representatives from California, Colorado, and Oregon discussed their laws' various elements and commonalities.

Washington’s 2023 E-Cycles Data  
In March 2023, the E-Cycles Washington program collected 1.1.8 million pounds of TVs, computers and monitors for recycling. The year-to-date collection total for 2023 is 3.13 million pounds or 103% compared to the 3.04 million pounds collected over the same period in 2022. Over the program’s lifetime the total volume collected is 456.5 million pounds. The Washington Materials Management & Financing Authority (WMMFA) provides a detailed county-by-county breakdown of the collection data which can be found on the E-cycles Washington website.

NWPSC Associate Member Pledge 

Associate members of the Northwest Product Stewardship Council are local, state, regional, and federal government agencies, or non-profit organizations that support the NWPSC mission and product stewardship principles. The Pledge signals your support for NWPSC's mission and that you want to be in the inner circle of information regarding NWPSC's work. If you have not yet signed the NWPSC Associate Member Pledge, please do so now.

Legislation 

Oregon

• Modernizing Oregon E-Cycles Program: HB 3220 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. These amendments are necessary to properly update the 2009 E-Cycles program to increase administrative efficiencies while maintaining and ensuring the program’s success in the future. This bill has passed through the House and was heard in the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment on April 18th.  
• Update to Oregon Drug Take-Back Program: SB 411would 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. This amendment is essential to update the current pharmaceuticals law to ensure more opportunities and outlets for proper disposal. This bill has passed through the Senate and was heard in the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care on April 19th.  

Non-EPR Waste & Recycling Bills

• Foam-Free Oregon: SB 543 would prohibit the use of polystyrene foam foodware including bowls, plates, cups, lids, clamshells, or other containers and prohibit the sale of polystyrene foam packing peanuts and coolers by January 1, 2025. The bill would also prohibit the use of toxic forever chemicals in foodware containers. 
• Enabling Reuse: SB 545 would update Oregon’s health code to enable customers to bring reusable and refillable containers for food. 
• SB 542: relating to a Right to Repair of consumer electronic equipment. This bill would require the original electronic equipment manufacturer to make available to the owner of the electronic device or independent repair provider any tools, documentation, or other devices available to authorized repair providers for diagnosing and repairing such electronic equipment.

Washington

• Battery EPR HB 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.Under current rules adopted by the Department of Ecology, businesses are allowed to manage most types of batteries as universal waste, which can have dangerous consequences for MRFs and other waste management facilities.  This bill passed through both chambers and was delivered to the Governor on April 19th.  
• Wind Turbines SB 5287, concerning a study on the recycling of wind turbine blades, would requires the Washington State University Extension Energy Program to conduct a study on the feasibility of recycling wind turbines blades, including consideration of an EPR program. This bill passed through both chambers and was delivered to the Governor on April 20th.  

Non-EPR Waste & Recycling Bills

• Compostable Products HB 1033, evaluating compostable product usage in Washington, would establish 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. 
• Plastic Pollution HB 1085, reducing plastic pollution, would take three step to reduce plastics: 1) prohibit the use of expanded or extruded plastic foam overwater structures such as docks; 2) prohibit hotels and other lodging establishments from providing personal health or beauty products in mini plastic packaging/containers and 3) require water bottle refill stations wherever a drinking fountain is required in all new buildings to reduce single-use plastic bottles.  
  

Events & Webinars

• NERC’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Carpet: Opportunities & Impact Seminar: March 28, 2023. You can find presentations and the recording here. 
• Packaging EPR has Arrived in the U.S. – Now What? An Ameripen Webinar Series: May 17th, June 14th, July 12th https://www.ameripen.org/event/eprwebinarseries ($75 for non-members) 
• Washington State Recycling Association (WSRA) Annual Conference: May 21-24, 2023, in Yakima
• 2023 U.S. Product Stewardship Forum: September 11 – 14 in Portland, OR 
• Sustainable Oregon 2023: October 9-11 in Gleneden Beach, OR. The annual Association of Oregon Recyclers (AOR) conference is an opportunity for colleagues in the recycling, waste prevention and sustainable materials management industries to connect about ideas, learn what’s on the horizon, and be inspired. Call for session proposals due June 2, 2023.

Jobs and Opportunities  

• The Mattress Recycling Council is hiring for an Oregon Program Coordinator to help launch the statewide mattress recycling program created by Oregon’s 2022 mattress recycling law (SB 1576). This is a remote position; however, applicants must reside in Oregon. Ideal applicants will have experience working with Oregon’s solid waste and recycling community. For the job description and application instructions, visit https://mattressrecyclingcouncil.org/career-opportunities 

Engage with the Northwest Product Stewardship Council
Add your voice and join the Northwest Product Stewardship Council (NWPSC) as an Associate, Steering, 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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