NWPSC November Newsletter

King County, Washington sent this bulletin at 11/27/2024 03:28 PM PST

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November 2024

Programs & News – Oregon & Washington

Ardagh Permanently Closes Glass Bottle Plant in Seattle
On November 7, Ardagh Glass Packaging, the major glass bottle manufacturer in the Seattle area, informed the Washington state government that it permanently closed its Seattle facility. This decision follows an earlier production pause in July 2024. Ardagh cited ongoing pressure from low-priced imports as a primary reason for their closure. This recently announced closure has created unprecedented challenges for glass recycling in Seattle and neighboring jurisdictions.

Need for More Investments and Outreach & Education to Improve Recycling in King County
The latest King County Material Recovery Facility (MRF) Assessment evaluates the performance and efficiency of regional recycling facilities. It highlights key challenges like contamination in recyclables and the need for technological upgrades to improve sorting efficiency. Despite contamination decreasing in inbound materials, contamination in outbound commodities have not improved. For example, 8.5% of mixed paper bales are plastic and 2% is metal. The study emphasizes collaboration between stakeholders to enhance outreach and education to improve collection methods. Recommendations include public education to reduce contamination, increased investment in facility modernization, and policy adjustments to support sustainable recycling practices.

OR DEQ Submits Feedback on Circular Action Alliance’s Revised Program Plan
In early November, the OR DEQ submitted their feedback on Circular Action Alliance’s (CAA) revised program plan, noting that CAA made “considerable progress” in their second draft of the program plan, highlighting particularly good progress on verification standards for responsible end markets and the life cycle assessment approach for eco-modulation. Overall, the OR DEQ reviewed and approved eighteen and rejected eight sections of CAA’s revised program plan. The eight sections rejected by the OR DEQ include system expansion, transportation reimbursement, additional local government funding, convenience standards, and more. The OR DEQ noted that the rejection of these eight sections was expected as CAA is still awaiting input from their system cost survey and the Oregon System Recycling Optimization Plan. CAA must submit an updated version of the plan based on the OR DEQ’s feedback by December 6.

WA’s Solar Panel-Recycling Program Needs Teeth
In 2017, Washington passed their first-in-the-nation solar panel stewardship law, requiring solar panel manufacturers to finance and manage the takeback and recycling of discarded solar panels in Washington. In 2021, the law was amended to push back the program implementation to give manufacturers additional time to submit their stewardship plans. However, to date, not all manufacturers have submitted their stewardship plans, and Ecology lacks the ability to fine manufacturers for non-compliance until July 1, 2025. In response, the Energy Fair Trade Coalition (EFTC) sent a letter to Attorney General Bob Ferguson, requesting him to notify manufacturers of their obligations and hold them accountable.

Study Shows the Potential for Recovering US PET Packaging and Polyester Textile that Would Halve Virgin PET Production
A new study, published by Systemiq with support from Closed Loop Partners, Eunomia and The Recycling Partnership, outlines a comprehensive roadmap to transition the US PET packaging and polyester textile industries: from the current linear, single-use model towards circular, low-waste and low-emission systems by 2040. A scale-up of proven circular economy approaches could cut PET/polyester waste going to landfill and incineration by half, and reduce the demand for virgin PET. To fully unlock the circular and low-emissions potential of PET and polyester, the study recommends enacting well-designed EPR laws in more states, scaling new recycling technologies, driving industry innovation to reduce consumption and waste, and increasing reuse, collection and recycling initiatives.

Programs & News – Other States

How Supplier Collaboration, Investing in Data can Help Brands’ EPR Transition
As packaging EPR gets closer to implementation here in the U.S., producers continue to ramp up their preparation for these programs and are calling on packaging suppliers and other program stakeholders to get more involved in the process. At the Pack Expo International, Neil Menezes, a CPG sustainability professional as vice chair of CAA, highlighted the critical role suppliers will have in helping producers source data for reporting and compliance sake, and how suppliers can use their experience with such policies in other jurisdictions to help producers navigate the murky waters of EPR here in the U.S.

Stakeholders are Engaged on the Implementation of California Packaging EPR
California’s packaging EPR law just concluded its 15-day written comment period on the law’s latest permanent regulations draft, for which 2,500 individual comments were received. The revised permanent regulations included some changed definitions, higher thresholds for materials exemptions, clarifying language on reimbursement and responsible end markets, and more. Stakeholders applauded the improvements in the revised permanent regulations; however, they are still seeking clarification and further revisions towards the permanent regulations regarding defining online retailers, recycling rate calculations, an explicit list of costs covered by the PRO for local governments, and more.  

CAA Lays out Responsible End Market Strategy
CAA, which has emerged as the primary packaging PRO in the U.S., has worked to develop strategies to increase the utilization of PCR content in packaging, including the development and verification of responsible end markets for recycled packaging. CAA has developed a three-step verification process for responsible end markets, consisting of an initial screening, ongoing data review, and a third-party, on-site audit, which must be conducted every 5 years. CAA’s end market verification criteria will be based on state-specific requirements, material type, harmonization with existing certification programs, and prioritization for overseas markets.

Events & Webinars

 

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