In my July 13 and July 26 posts, I described how Washington State’s new law will cut down on unnecessary consumer plastics. Now, I want to describe the provision of this new law that will help increase the rate of plastics recycling in our state.
Background:
Up to this point in time, only 9% of the world’s production of 9 billion tons of plastics have been recycled. Here in Washington State, we do a bit better in recycling plastics…about 16%. However, countries in the European Union, Canada, and Australia recycle plastics at a rate ranging about 40-60%.
Currently, many recyclable plastic products are not being collected by local governments because there is no market demand for the materials. We need to “jump-start” the market for recyclable commodities in order to increase the value of recycled content, as compared to cheap virgin minerals (oil & gas) that need to stay in the ground.
When Governor Jay Inslee signed SB 5022 into law on May 17, it also established minimum post-consumer recycled content requirements for plastic beverage containers, household cleaning and personal care products containers, and trash bags. All this will help increase the value of recycled plastics and help change our state from a linear economy (i.e., take-make-dispose) to a more circular economy (take-make-recycle/remake).
Take = extract minerals from the earth
Make = manufacture products
Dispose = landfilling (burying)
Recycle/remake = collect recyclables and remake new products
!!! A more circular economy will help end the practice of landfilling (burying) very valuable and finite resources for an eternity.
I will now “unpack” what the new law requires for:
a. Plastic beverage containers
b. Plastic containers for dairy milk and small plastic bottles for wine
c. Plastic containers for household cleaning and personal care products
d. Plastic trash bags
For easy reference here again is that graphic from Zero Waste Washington that explains the provisions of SB 5022 with the help of pictures:
https://zerowastewashington.org/wp-cont ... 8-2021.pdf
A. Plastic beverage containers:
First, let’s take a look at all those single-use “plastic beverage containers” that we consume by the millions. According to this new law, “plastic beverage containers” do not include (a.) durable, refillable containers like your commuter mugs and refillable water bottles, (b.) medical devices, medical products, non-prescription and prescription drugs, and dietary supplements, (c.) bladders for wine, and (d.) liners, caps, corks, closures, and labels.
Starting in 2023, producers who sell or distribute plastic beverage containers (other than for dairy milk and wine in 187 ml. bottles) in Washington State must meet minimum post-consumer recycled content (by weight) for containers up to one gallon, according to the following schedule:
15% by January 1, 2023
25% by January 1, 2026
50% by January 1, 2031
FYI: Even before SB 5022 was signed into law, Nestle’, PepsiCo, Evian, Coca Cola, and Naked brands had already pledged to provide recycled content in their plastic beverage containers. Today, if you pick up a plastic bottle of Naked brand beverage, the label says that their bottle is made from 100% recycled content.
B. Plastic containers for dairy milk and small plastic bottles for wine:
Secondly, we will look at plastic containers for dairy milk and 187 ml plastic bottles for wine. You may have seen these 187 ml. bottles on airlines and in food stores. For these types of plastic beverage containers, there is a five-year extension for producers to meet post-consumer recycled content. Starting 2028, producers who sell and distribute (a.) plastic milk containers (up to one gallon) and (b.) 187 ml plastic containers for wine in Washington State must meet minimum post-consumer recycled content (by weight) according the following schedule:
15% by January 1, 2028
25% by January 1, 2031
50% by January 1, 2036
C. Plastic containers for household cleaning and personal care products:
Thirdly, we will look at plastic containers for household cleaning and personal care products. Exemptions include refillable household cleaning and personal care containers and rigid plastic containers or plastic bottles that are for medical use. Starting 2025, producers who sell and distribute plastic containers (up to five gallons) for household cleaning and personal care products in Washington State must meet minimum post-consumer recycled content (by weight) according to the following schedule:
15% by January 1, 2025
25% by January 1, 2028
50% by January 1, 2031
D. Plastic trash bags:
Lastly, we will look at plastic trash bags. Starting 2023, producers who sell and distribute plastic trash bags in Washington State must meet minimum post-consumer recycled content (by weight) according to the following schedule:
10% by January 1, 2023
15% by January 1, 2025
20% by January 1, 2027
Below is a link to a Department of Ecology document that provides an easy-to-read chart that maps out when these various plastic container products must meet their required recycled content targets. When you open this link, look for the line that says “Timeline for recycled content”, then click the “+” sign to the right.
https://ecology.wa.gov/Waste-Toxics/Red ... ution-laws
It will take some time unravel several decades of “guilt-free consumption” of plastic products that is now threatening to permanently change the nature of the world. If you don’t know what I mean by “guilt-free consumption”, I could unpack the history of that topic also.
SB 5022 will help reduce the use of unnecessary plastics, restore our recycling system, and create jobs in Washington State. Stay tuned, the Plastic Free Washington Coalition and the Washington State Legislature will be introducing more needed changes in 2022 to help make trash obsolete.
Questions? Comment?
Another questions or comment about ocean plastic pollution?