05 • 17 • 2025
Pass Extended Producer Responsibility in Washington - EPR NOW!
VICTORY! By passing Extended Producer Responsibility, Washington will drastically reduce the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean. In addition, this bill will increase access to recycling services while reducing the cost to consumers, improve recycling rates across the state, create jobs, and so much more!
By passing the Washington Recycling Reform Act (WRRA) - formerly the WRAP Act - we will reduce the amount plastic pollution found on our beaches and improve access to recycling across Washington in a number of ways:
- Require producers of packaging to pay for recycling services in Washington
- Establish recycling and reuse targets for producers and set transparency requirements for responsible recycling
- Expand recycling services to all households that have curbside garbage collection
- Create a standardized list of what is recyclable statewide, eliminating confusion and reducing waste stream contamination
- Incentivize design changes to reduce unnecessary packaging and opt for more sustainable/reusable materials
- Possibly create a beverage deposit system, allowing consumers to return bottles and cans at for 10 cents
- Implement truth in labeling, banning deceptive claims about the recyclability of products
- Update recycled content requirements, which will increase demand for recycled products
For more information, check out our EPR Factsheet.
Surfrider Washington is grateful to all our partners in the Plastic Free WA / WA Sin Plástico Coalition that have worked for years to pass this important bill!