NWPSC September Newsletter

King County, Washington sent this bulletin at 09/26/2024 09:15 AM PDT

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September 2024

 

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The NWPSC monthly newsletter serves as a resource to all NWPSC members, providing readers with Oregon and Washington product stewardship program updates, product stewardship news across the U.S., legislation tracking and analysis, and information on upcoming waste-related events. We at the NWPSC would love to hear your thoughts on the newsletter so we can work on improving these newsletters to serve you all as best as possible. Please take a few minutes to fill out the NWPSC Newsletter Satisfaction Survey.

 

Programs & News – Oregon & Washington

OR Drug Take-Back Program: NWPSC Lunch & Learn
Please join the NWPSC on Monday, September 30th, for a Lunch & Learn about Oregon’s Drug Take-Back program. The program requires drug manufacturers to establish convenient and secure take-back program for prescription and over-the-counter medicines for Oregon residents. Michael Lee, Policy Lead on EPR programs for the Materials Management Product Stewardship Team at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, will provide an overview of the program and discuss how local governments are impacted and can get involved. There will be ample time for Q&A. Please click here to register for this Lunch & Learn! More information about the Oregon Drug Take-Back program can be found here.

 

OR Mattress Stewardship – Become a No-Cost Mattress Collection Site!
The OR DEQ approved the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) to serve as the producer responsibility organization (PRO) to help administer the statewide mattress stewardship program in Oregon. MRC is currently working to develop its collection network for covered mattresses in Oregon and is collecting information from locations that are interested in serving as a public collection site for the program. Participating public collection sites will receive collection containers, compensation for collected covered mattresses, transportation services from their sites to contracted recyclers, and assistance with education. To learn more about the benefits, expectations, and requirements of serving as a public collection site, view MRC’s collection site information sheet. To indicate interest in serving as a public collection site, complete the service provider interest form.

 

WA Solar Panel Stewardship – Public Comment on a Legislative Proposal to Delay Implementation of Law
Washington’s solar panel stewardship law, passed in 2017, faces challenges as manufacturers have indicated their plans not to sell solar panels in Washington under the new program rather than comply with the law. In response, Ecology has introduced a legislative proposal to delay the implementation of Washington’s law, enabling the solar panel industry to legally continue operating in Washington while solutions are developed. The delay would allow for the creation of an advisory committee, which would work to identify problems in the law and develop legislative recommendations to fix these issues. If the proposal does not move forward and the law remains unchanged, there will be disruptions to the supply and cost of panels available in Washington. Ecology is currently accepting public comments on the legislative proposal until October 3rd, 2024.

 

OR DEQ and Product Stewardship Institute Webinar Series – Preparing Producers for OR Packaging EPR
In the summer of 2024, the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) hosted a four-part webinar series on behalf of OR DEQ and in partnership with Circular Action Alliance (CAA) to inform producers about their upcoming obligations under Oregon’s packaging EPR law. Each of the four webinars in the series focuses on a different type of packaging and producer type, including food serviceware, printing and writing paper, consumer goods and B2B packaging, and e-commerce and online retail packaging, providing these producers with relevant, specific information on who to prepare for the implementation of Oregon’s packaging EPR program. The webinar recordings are free and available to the public on PSI’s website.

 

Programs & News – Other States

First Comprehensive U.S. Government Plan to Target Plastic Pollution
In 2023, the White House launched the Interagency Policy Committee on Plastic Pollution and a Circular Economy (ICP) to advance efforts related to combatting plastic pollution in the U.S. In July 2024, the ICP released its report, “Mobilizing Federal Action on Plastic Pollution: Progress, Principles, and Priorities,” outlining existing and potential new federal actions to reduce the impact of plastic pollution throughout the plastic lifecycle. One such federal action outlined in the report surrounds the potential for a national extended producer responsibility initiative to combat plastic waste and provide a nationwide harmonized system for plastic waste.

 

California EPR Bills Sent to Governor
In late August, California state legislators approved a range of EPR bills related to textiles, marine flares, EV batteries, carpet, and paint, all of which are headed to the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom to sign before September 30th. SB 707 (Textiles EPR) and SB 1066 (Marine Flares EPR) would establish first-in-the-nation EPR programs for textiles and marine flares. AB 863 (Carpet EPR) and SB 1143 (Paint EPR) would establish needed changes to California's existing EPR programs for carpet and paint products. SB 615 would establish an EPR program for EV batteries, which, if passed, would become the second EPR program for EV batteries in the U.S., following New Jersey passing their EV battery EPR program in early 2024.

 

How EPR Policies can Tackle Textile Waste
More than 80% of textiles discarded by households in the U.S. are incinerated, landfilled, or abandoned in the environment, even though most textile waste can be recycled or reused if managed properly at the end of its life. EPR can serve as a solution to ensure textile waste is handled properly and can help address the root issue surrounding the proliferation of textile waste in recent years. EPR for textiles has gained momentum in recent years, with four European Union member states (France, Netherlands, Hungary, and Latvia) already having mandatory EPR policies for textiles; Australia and Colombia are both currently piloting voluntary EPR schemes for textiles; and in the U.S., California recently passed a textile EPR bill. The fashion industry, as well as collectors, sorters, and graders of used textiles, have all indicated support for textile EPR policies.

 

US Plastic Pact Publishes Design for Circularity Playbooks
In June, the U.S. Plastic Pact published three Design for Circularity Playbooks: Design for Recyclability Playbook, Design for Reuse Playbook, and Design for Compostability Playbook. These playbooks offer comprehensive guidelines for ensuring plastic packaging is properly designed for continuous reuse, recycling, or composting.

 

Events & Webinars

 

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.