Washington's Big Recycling Overhaul: What the New Law Means for Businesses and Communities

Washington's Big Recycling Overhaul: What the New Law Means for Businesses and Communitie

A major change is coming to the way Washington handles recycling. The Legislature passed E2SSB 5284, also known as the Recycling Reform Act, which is now state law.

If you are a business owner, local government official, or resident who recycles at home, this law will affect you. The goal is simple: shift more of the responsibility and cost of recycling from households and cities to the companies that make packaging and paper products.
 
What the Law Does
E2SSB 5284 sets up what is known as an Extended Producer Responsibility system—often shortened to EPR. Under this system, producers, including manufacturers, importers, and brand owners, will be required to help fund and manage the recycling of packaging and paper materials sold in Washington.

Instead of relying mostly on taxpayers and local governments to deal with waste, the companies that create waste will now share the cost. This includes paying into a new statewide system and following the rules set by the Washington Department of Ecology.

To manage this, companies either join a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) or handle the obligations independently. These organizations will be responsible for collecting recyclables, setting up educational campaigns, and reporting their performance to the state.
 
When the Changes Take Effect
The rollout will take several years to complete. Producers must register with the state and join a PRO by July of 2026. The Department of Ecology will review and approve the detailed plans, and the full program is expected to be implemented by January 2030.

One of the big shifts will be that curbside recycling must be available in all areas that have trash pickups, something that does not exist in many parts of Washington today. To make things less confusing, the state will create a single list of recyclable materials, so the rules will be the same whether you live in Seattle or in a rural county.
 
Why This Matters to Businesses
This is a significant shift for businesses. If you sell packaged goods, food, clothing, electronics, or paper, you must register, track your materials, and pay fees to fund recycling programs.

This creates an incentive to design packaging that is easier to recycle or reusable, which could reduce the fees paid. On the upside, businesses will no longer have to navigate dozens of different local recycling rules. There will be one system and one set of requirements statewide.

However, there are challenges. Businesses must understand the new rules, gather data on their packaging, and possibly redesign their products or labels. Smaller companies may need help adapting to the reporting and compliance burden. There is also the likelihood that most of the new costs will be passed on to consumers.
 
What It Means for Communities
If the system works as intended, households may end up paying less for recycling over time because producers cover more of the cost. The environmental benefits could also be significant, with less plastic ending up in landfills and waterways.

Simultaneously, the transition will not be instantaneous. Local governments must update their waste management plans and work closely with the new Producer Responsibility Organizations. Even with producers footing the bill, communities will still need to remain involved to ensure equity, access, and oversight.
 
Looking Ahead
Over the next few years, state agencies will begin writing rules and establishing the structure for this new recycling system. This process will shape how much producers pay, how materials are collected, and how success is measured.

By 2038, the Department of Ecology is required to report back to the Legislature with a full review of the program’s performance. This will include data on recycling rates, costs, environmental outcomes, and any needed changes.
 
Next Steps for Businesses
If you are a business that sells products with packaging in Washington, now is the time to start preparing. Begin looking at your packaging materials, tracking what you sell into the state, and staying informed about the Department of Ecology’s upcoming rulemaking.
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Being part of the process early could help reduce long-term costs and ensure that the company remains compliant with the new law.

• This article was written with contributions from AI to organize the information and improve its readability.

References & Resources:

1. Washington State Legislature – E2SSB 5284 Bill Summary
   https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5284&Year=2025
2. Washington State Standard – Recycling system overhaul bill clears Washington Senate
   https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/03/07/recycling-system-overhaul-bill-clears-washington-senate/
3. Axios Local Seattle – Washington’s recycling system could get a major makeover
   https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2025/04/01/washington-state-bill-recycling-reform
4. National Caucus of Environmental Legislators – Washington State Passes EPR for Packaging
   https://ncel.net/articles/washington-state-passes-epr-for-packaging/
5. Holland & Knight – Washington State Enacts EPR Program for Packaging and Paper Products
   https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2025/05/washington-state-enacts-epr-program-for-packaging-and-paper-products
6. Wine Institute – Washington EPR Compliance Guide
   https://wineinstitute.org/our-work/compliance/epr/epr-washington
7. Department of Ecology (Washington) – Rulemaking Page (Coming Soon)
   https://ecology.wa.gov