Packaging Producer Responsibility
Worldwide, we produce almost 400 million tons of plastic waste annually—and nearly half of all plastic produced is intended to be used just once and thrown away.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop with plastics. We are inundated with excess packaging, especially single-use items.
Washington’s recycling systems have not been able to keep up with the influx of plastic and paper packaging flooding into our homes and environment:
In Washington, more than 50% of all consumer packaging and paper products are landfilled or incinerated, wasting an estimated $104 million in valuable materials.
Only 17% of plastic packaging waste is actually recycled.
Washingtonian’s recycling service bills have increased up to 30% over the past five years.
Recycling access varies across the state and many Washington residents must pay extra for recycling services. Residents in 11 counties have no access to curbside recycling services at all.
The solution:
We can address the growing amount of unnecessary and non-recyclable packaging by making producers–the companies that actually make packaging decisions–financially responsible for the end-of-life costs of these materials, rather than these costs falling on Washington residents.
This will put in place incentives for companies to reduce packaging and instead use packaging that is reusable, compostable, or actually recyclable.
Producer responsibility in action:
Globally, companies have been complying with producer responsibility programs since the 1990s, with great results. In the last two years, California, Colorado, Maine, and Oregon have passed producer responsibility programs for packaging and more states are considering putting their own programs in place.
The benefits of a packaging producer responsibility policy
Incentivizes producers to use reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging.
Reduces pollution causing climate change: Higher use of recycled content in packaging materials means fewer emissions and less energy use compared to producing virgin paper, plastic, metal, and glass packaging.
Provides free, universal recycling services for all residents: Everyone who currently have curbside garbage pickup will receive curbside recycling service.
Reduces confusion and contamination by developing a one list of what can be recycled statewide and ensuring that product labels reflect actual recyclability in the state.
Supports our economy by building local supply chains and recycling businesses and creating new, green jobs.
Photo attribution: (Header) Tampa Bay Estuary Program, (Top to Bottom): Hollie Santos on Unsplash and PFW Coalition