The bill establishes minimum postconsumer recycled content (PCRC) requirements for various plastic products sold in Washington State, aiming to enhance environmental sustainability and support the recycling industry. It introduces new definitions for PCRC products, including "PCRC 1.0" and "PCRC 2.0," and sets specific minimum percentages of recycled content that producers must meet for items such as plastic beverage containers, household cleaning products, and plastic trash bags. For example, beverage containers must contain at least 15% recycled content starting January 1, 2023, increasing to 50% by January 1, 2031. The legislation also includes provisions for producers to report their use of virgin plastic and postconsumer recycled content, with penalties for non-compliance.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to clarify registration, reporting, and labeling requirements for producers, mandating that plastic trash bags be labeled with the producer's name, location, and percentage of postconsumer recycled content starting January 1, 2027. It requires third-party certification for compliance and establishes a process for audits and investigations to ensure adherence to the new regulations. The bill also outlines a timeline for future evaluations of the PCRC requirements, including market studies every ten years and reports to the governor and legislative committees every five years. Overall, the legislation emphasizes the importance of increasing recycled material usage in plastic products to promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 70A.245.010, 70A.245.020, 70A.245.030, 43.21A.160, 70A.245.100, 70A.245.090, 70A.245.120, 70A.245.060