This fall, as an advocate with Setting Washington, I helped manage a litter cleanup. In simply over an hour, our group picked up greater than 120 kilos of trash. Whereas we discovered some large gadgets, we principally discovered small packaging — a lot of it plastic. That’s no shock, provided that roughly 30% of major plastic manufacturing is used to make plastic packaging. The proliferation of hard-to-recycle supplies, like skinny plastic movie, or multi-material packaging, is one contributor to Washington’s declining recycling charges over the past decade. This has additionally contributed to the rising prices of recycling, leading to diminished companies and better charges for some Washingtonians.
Producer accountability for packaging, utilized within the European Union and Canada for many years, makes corporations and producers financially accountable for end-of-life prices of their merchandise. Establishing such a program in Washington would create one listing of recyclables throughout the state, serving to cut back confusion and contamination. It will additionally develop recycling companies throughout the state for free of charge to shoppers, whereas bettering recycling charges.
This coverage gives frequent sense options to cut back waste and enhance recycling outcomes in Washington. Name your legislators, and ask them to move prolonged producer accountability in 2024.
Pam Clough, Seattle
