WA Packaging Recycling Act stalls, but push for EPR remains

After amendments offered by Food Northwest were officially introduced by leading Democrats in Olympia, Washington, SB 5154 and HB 1131 (the Wrap Act) failed to make the deadline to pass out of one legislative chamber. That means the WRAP Act is dead for now in Washington. It will be back. WRAP was the latest push to pass Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws on a state-by-state basis. At least four states have EPR laws on the books (including Oregon and California) and eight more are considering them this year. Oregon’s law is in rulemaking now and Food NW is represented on the rules advisory committee by Pam Barrow.

EPR has taken different forms, but a common thread is shifting the costs to recycle packaging away from waste companies and municipalities to the companies who use the packaging. Food Northwest has worked in coalition with other leading groups to ensure that EPR standards and mandates are attainable and cause the lowest level of economic impact on food companies possible. We’ve also worked tirelessly to ensure states do not adopt EPR rules that put compliance with them in conflict with FDA or USDA requirements. We’ve engaged on the viability of recycled content requirements as well. These requirements may run afoul of federal rules and there is not currently adequate availability of usable recycled material to meet some of the proposed levels for recycled content. EPR is a long-term issue. Food NW is fully engaged in working for the best possible outcomes.