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Legislation at both local and state levels has been instrumental in banning the use of some of the most prevalent and harmful plastics.
Our coalition's first success story was the passage of the statewide reusable bag bill in 2020. Plastic bags are one of the most common types of plastic pollution and it's easy to bring your own bag.
Following bans in Edmonds (2009) and Seattle (2011), municipalities across the state began banning single-use carry home plastic bags and advocating for the use of reusable bags instead. Ultimately, there were 37 separate Reusable Bag ordinances in Washington. SB 5323 was passed into law in spring of 2020, resulting in the statewide ban on thin, single-use plastic bags!
Our coalition's next big victory was the passage of SB 5022 in 2021. This law includes the nation's strongest ban on expanded polystyrene foam products, mandating the phaseout of packaging peanuts in 2023 and the phaseout of polystyrene foam food service products and recreational coolers in June 2024.
The law also required that plastic foodware items like utensils, straws, and condiment packets be given out only upon request, and established higher minimum standards for the use of post-consumer recycled content in many plastic containers.
Then, in 2023, our coalition celebrated the passage of Act to Reduce Plastic Pollution (HB 1085). The law will take action in three ways to reduce plastic pollution and unnecessary waste:
First, where building standards already require drinking fountains, it also requires water bottle refill stations to facilitate and encourage the widespread use of reusable bottles.
Second, the law bans new thin, plastic-wrapped foam-filled floats for docks in Washington waters, and study the impacts on the environment of foam-filled docking surrounded with hard plastic.
Last, it phases out mini plastic packaging for toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, bath and hand soap, and lotion for use in hotels and other lodging establishments.
In 2022-2025, our coalition supported extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging and paper products, along with other partners. EPR requires consumer goods producers and brands to take responsibility for recycling their packaging and pay to improve our current residential recycling system. The bill, named the Recycling Reform Act, passed into law in 2025!
This program will:
Reduce emissions and improve our environment by increasing our reuse, recycling and plastic source reduction rates.
Make it easy to recycle by increasing access, including at apartments and in rural areas.
Support Washington’s economy by building local supply chains and recycling businesses and creating new, green jobs.
Reduce confusion and contamination by developing a clear common list of what can be recycled statewide.
Save local governments and residents money by covering most of the costs of recycling programs
Create financial incentives for companies to reduce unnecessary packaging and use greener, more recyclable materials.
In 2026, our coalition is supporting three plastics-related bills:
Ban all plastic film bags at carryout (SB 5695): Championed by Representative Lisa Parshley and Sen. Jessica Bateman, this bill would amend the existing bag law to ban all film plastic bags at check-out and increase the fee for paper bags.
Bottle bill (HB 1607): Championed by Senator Robinson and Representative Stonier, this bill would establish a system that facilitates the return of beverage containers, with a 10 cent refund. This bill is an Environmental Priorities Coalition priority bill for 2026.
Expansion of Post-Consumer Recycled Content (HB 2271): Championed by Representative Liz Berry and Sen Lovelett, this bill would add additional product categories (rigid plastic items) and packaging categories (film) to the state’s existing postconsumer recycled content law. UPDATE: This bill died for the year on February 17, 2026.
We are also supporting related bills including the Environmental Crimes bill (SB 5360): Championed by Sen. Trudeau, this bill would establish new crimes and provide penalties and exceptions for certain violations of the state Water Pollution Control Act, Clean Air Act, Hazardous Waste Management Act, and other specified provisions (environmental laws).
Photos on the left are from Plastic-Free WA Lobby Day on Jan 17, 2026
Photo attribution: (Header) Jacob Thomas on Unsplash, (Top to Bottom) PFW Coalition
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