NWPSC July Newsletter

July 2024

 

Programs & News – Oregon & Washington

LightRecycle WA: Respond to LightRecycle’s Annual Satisfaction Survey before July 22, 2024
Earlier this month, Ecology released two annual surveys relating to the LightRecycle WA program; the LightRecycle WA Satisfaction Survey and the Ecology Energy Efficient Lighting Survey. These surveys provide a means for WA local governments to indicate their awareness and satisfaction with the LightRecycle program and inform Ecology about the availability of energy-efficient lighting options in their communities. These short surveys are open to the public and will close on July 22^nd.

WA Battery Stewardship: Ecology Begins Rulemaking with Public Comments due July 31, 2024
Earlier this summer, Ecology began its preliminary rulemaking on WA’s Battery Stewardship Program, passed in 2023, focusing on rules to clarify definitions, stewardship plan and annual reporting requirements, set agency fees to cover oversight costs, and establish standards for battery management. Rules pertaining to the program will be finalized and adopted in the winter of 2025. As part of the rulemaking process, Ecology is now accepting public comments on key rulemaking topics such as plan components, reporting requirements, and program goals and targets. Public comments are due by July 31, 2024.

Latest Reports from EPR programs in WA

• E-Cycle WA June year-to-date collection report
• PaintCare's Washington Paint Stewardship Program 2023 Annual Report

OR PaintCare: OR DEQ and PaintCare Annual Meeting
The OR DEQ and PaintCare held their annual meeting on June 12, 2024, to discuss findings from the 2023 Annual Report, program plan updates, and program goals. On the call, the OR DEQ presented the 2023 wasteshed volumes, and PaintCare presented their 2023 annual report. The presentations from PaintCare and OR DEQ, as well as the meeting summary/notes, were made public following the completion of the meeting.

 

Programs & News – Other States

Companies Seek Federal EPR: How Producers Can Prepare
With Minnesota recently passing the fifth packaging EPR law in the U.S., producers obligated to finance and manage these programs are beginning to grapple with how they will comply with these laws and their requirements. Producers are just beginning to engage in dialogues with stakeholders and policymakers to share practical insights and industry-specific knowledge to develop a harmonized approach to packaging EPR rather than a patchwork of rules across states. A growing number of producers are calling for federal EPR as they seek harmonization and standardization among these five state programs.

See How Corporations are Addressing Plastic Pollution and their Efforts Related to EPR
As You Sow published their scorecard in June on how well corporations are following up on their plastic promises including their support and action on EPR. Of the 225 companies researched, 73 companies or 33% acknowledge financial responsibility for their packaging at its end of life and support EPR legislation. The report notes that EPR is an essential element to a comprehensive corporate strategy to address risks faced by plastic pollution.

Ellen MacArthur Foundation Publishes Study on EPR for Textiles
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation recently published a study on EPR for textiles. The report, titled “Pushing the Boundaries of EPR Policy for Textiles,” analyzes current textile waste management systems worldwide, including the three countries that have adopted EPR for textiles policies (France, Hungary, and the Netherlands). The report also outlines the benefits of EPR programs for textiles and provides recommendations for implementing these programs worldwide.

California Legislators Continue to Push for Textiles EPR Law
California’s textiles EPR bill, the Textile Recovery Act of 2024, Senate Bill (SB) 707, passed out of the California Assembly in early July and is headed to the Senate for consideration. If passed, SB 707 would establish a first-in-the-nation EPR program for textile waste, requiring textile producers to implement and fund a program to facilitate the reuse, repair, and recycling of clothing and textile fibers in California. California’s bill has received widespread support from various local government groups, environmental organizations, and industry players, including the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC), Goodwill, Ikea, and the Sierra Club California chapter.

 

Events & Webinars

• PSI Webinar – Packaging EPR in Minnesota: Unpacking the Process: August 7^th, at 9:00 am PT. Learn more and register here https://productstewardship.us/events/packaging-epr-in-minnesota-unpacking-the-process/
• PSI & OR DEQ Webinar Series on Producer Preparation and Compliance for Packaging EPR:
  • 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

 

Common Acronyms/Terms

• OR: Oregon
• WA: Washington
• EPR: Extended Producer Responsibility
• OR DEQ: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
• Ecology: Washington Department of Ecology
• RMA: Recycling Modernization Act
• MRC: Mattress Recycling Council
• WMMFA: Washington Materials Management & Financing Authority
• For additional information on common acronyms and terms visit the NWPSC Website

 

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