NWPSC June Newsletter

June 2024 

NWPSC Tour of Total Reclaim in Kent and EcoLights NW
A group of NWPSC members visited Total Reclaim’s recovery and recycling operations in Kent and their sister company, EcoLights Northwest, in Seattle on June 25. Total Reclaim is a collection site for E-Cycle WA and expected to also become a processor. They also recover refrigerants and recycle appliances containing refrigerants. They accept all types of batteries and plan to recycle alkaline batteries themselves.  

EcoLights recycles used fluorescent lamps and it the processor for LightRecycle WA. They crushed mercury-containing lights in a specialized machine for processing lamps that operates under negative pressure. The crushed lamps are separated into component parts; glass, aluminum endcaps, and mercury phosphor powder.

 

Programs & News – Oregon & Washington

Temporary layoffs at Ardagh Glass Inc. in Seattle
Ardagh Glass Inc. announced on June 17, 2024, that they will be temporarily laying off 244 workers at their glass manufacturing plant in Seattle, on July 1, 2024.  The reason for the halt in production is “ongoing pressure from low-priced imports from China, Chile and Mexico, and market conditions.” Ardagh’s facility in Seattle is one of only two glass manufacturing plants in Washington. It is unclear what the short and long-term implications this might have for glass recycling in the region.

E-Cycle Washington 2023 Local Government and Community Satisfaction Report Summary
Ecology recently published the E-Cycle Washington draft 2023 Local Government and Community Satisfaction Report Summary highlighting their level of satisfaction with collection services provided by the Washington Materials Management & Financing Association (WMMFA). Many of the responses from local governments surrounded their displeasure of collection sites closing across the state and the lack of awareness among Washington residents on the program and its collection opportunities. Many local governments also called out the need for more outreach on collection opportunities and for the WMMFA to consider how to make the collection of e-waste more accessible for diverse and underserved communities.

LightRecycle Washington Submits 2023 Annual Report
In May 2024, PCA Product Stewardship Inc. (PCA) submitted its 2023 annual report for Washington’s mercury lights EPR program, LightRecycle Washington. In 2023, the program collected 445,985 pounds of mercury-containing lights in Washington, estimated at around 898,282 units. This collection volume represents approximately 70.3% of their annual collection target of 1,278,444 units outlined in the program. The annual report outlines various reasons for not achieving its annual collection targets, with the primary reason cited being the faster-than-anticipated decrease in mercury-containing light sales.

Mattress Recycling Council Submits Second Revised Stewardship Plan
In October 2023, the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) submitted its initial proposed program plan for the Oregon Mattress Stewardship Program, which was rejected by the OR DEQ in December 2023 (OR DEQ comments/revisions on the first program plan). In February 2024, MRC submitted a revised program plan, which was again rejected by the OR DEQ (OR DEQ comments/revisions for the revised program plan), and earlier this month, MRC submitted their second revised program plan to OR DEQ for review and approval. In MRC’s second revised program plan, they attempt to address all of the OR DEQ’s comments/concerns outlined in the revised version of the program plan, including lack of information pertaining to convenience standards and how they will be met, concerns regarding the increased assessment amount, how MRC plans to handle mattresses deemed non-recyclable, and more. The OR DEQ has 45 days from the submission of the second revised plan (submitted on June 10, 2024) to review and provide a formal response to MRC.

Oregon Recycling Modernization Act: Public Comments on Circular Action Alliance’s Proposed Producer Responsibility Organization Plan
In late March, Circular Action Alliance submitted its 2025-2027 proposed program plan for Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act (RMA) to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (OR DEQ) for review and approval. Following the submission of the program plan, the OR DEQ opened a 61-day public comment period for interested individuals and organizations to share their insights, concerns, and recommendations for CAA’s proposed program plan. The OR DEQ received 18 comments on the program plan from various organizations representing packaging and plastic manufacturers, recyclers, the beverage industry, and consumer brand associations. One common comment/concern among those who submitted comments was regarding the lack of information on the fee structure/schedule and eco-modulated fees outlined in the proposed program plan. Many organizations also provided recommendations on what they believe should be added to the universal statewide collection list (USCL) and PRO recycling acceptance list.

 

Programs & News – Other States

British Columbia: EPR of the Past, Present, and Future
The June 14^th webinar “EPR in British Columbia: A Timeline for Success and Challenge Past, Present, Future,” hosted by Coast Waste Management Association (CWMA), brought together nine speakers to discuss their experiences with working on product stewardship an extended producer responsibility legislation and initiatives in British Columbia. On the webinar, the speakers discussed the first EPR program passed in British Columbia, which was for paint, highlighting that during bill development, the paint industry fought tooth and nail to kill the program, to now, 30 years after passage, the paint industry fully embracing the program and EPR concept. The speakers also discussed EPR programs in British Columbia for pesticides, packaging, HHW, and more and discussed the BC model of EPR, which requires the government to set program performance targets and allow the producers the flexibility to determine how they will reach these targets.

Packaging EPR Success Requires a Diverse Coalition
In late May, the Signalfire Group hosted a webinar discussing the importance of stakeholder engagement and coalition building in passing packaging EPR and presented various recommendations and tactics states have taken to build such a diverse coalition of supporters. The webinar, “Coalition Building for Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging and Paper Products,” featured multiple speakers, including Liz Chapman, Executive Director of Recycle Colorado, Washington Representative Liz Berry, and Dawn Timm, Chair of the New York Product Stewardship Council. The panelists discussed their tactics and successes in building a coalition of supporters in their respective states, with Liz Chapman touting that in Colorado, they held over 100 stakeholder meetings in addition to weekly partner meetings to build the support coalition that eventually helped carry the bill across the finish line.

Extended Producer Responsibility: Are You Ready?
In a recent Packaging World interview, Dan Felton of Ameripen answered various questions surrounding packaging EPR, ranging from very basic questions such as describing EPR to an unknowledgeable audience to much more intensive questions like how EPR has been operating in other countries. As well, in the interview, Dan Felton gave a glimpse into what he will be presenting/discussing at the September 2024 Packaging Recycling Summit put on by Packaging World, where Dan will provide an update and lead a discussion on the emergence and implementation of the packaging EPR laws across the U.S.  

 

Events & Webinars

• PSI & OR DEQ Webinar Series on Producer Preparation and Compliance for Packaging EPR:
  • Webinar 2 – Printing and Writing Paper: July 16, at 11:30 am PT. Register here https://productstewardship.us/events/oregon-packaging-epr-printing-and-writing-paper/
  • Webinar 3 – E-commerce and Online Retail Packaging: August 6, at 11:30 am PT. Register here https://productstewardship.us/events/oregon-packaging-epr-e-commerce-and-online-retail-packaging/
  • Webinar 4 – Consumer Goods and B2B Packaging: September 10, at 11:30 am PT. Register here https://productstewardship.us/events/oregon-packaging-epr-consumer-goods-and-b2b-packaging/
• North American Hazardous Materials Management Association (NAHMMA) – Northwest Hazardous Materials Management Conference: October 21 – 23, in Troutdale, OR. Deadline for submitting presentations is May 31, 2024. Learn more and register here https://nahmma.org/Northwest_Chapter

 

Jobs & Opportunities

Methow Recyclers is hiring a new Executive Director to be based in Methow Valley, Washington. Methow Recyclers is a non-profit organization helping communities in Methow Valley, Washington, reduce, reuse, and recycle through the operations of their recycling center, building materials reuse center, monthly free repair services, residential compost program, and various resources to educate residences on proper disposal and services available in their community. For more information on the role and how to apply, visit https://www.methowrecycles.org/about/were-hiring

 

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.