Zero Waste Washington is working hard to support strong zero waste policy during the 2026 WA legislative session, working with partner organizations and agencies. The session runs from January 12 to March 12, 2026.
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Note: Banner photo above: Bill signing for Recycling Reform Act, May 2025.
Signed by the Governor
Donating used baby items (SB 6087 – Concerning liability protections for donations of baby items that are less than five years old): Currently, donors and distributing organizations are not liable for civil damages or criminal penalties resulting from the nature, age, condition, or packaging of the donated children’s items (such as clothes, cribs, toys, high chairs and books) unless they act with gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Led by Sen Braun, this bill would expand the definition of donor and distributing organization to include religious organizations and expands the definition of children’s items to include strollers and car seats. Would require distributing organizations to inquire about the history of a car seat being donated, and confirm that the car seat is not expired or subject to a recall, and make disclosures about the car seat. Car seats are not easily recyclable and getting more years life out of them is helpful. STATUS: Senate: Passed off Senate floor (49-0-0-0) on February 11, 2026. In the House: Passed off House (93-0-0-5) on March 3, 2026. President signed on March 4, 2026. Speaker signed on March 5, 2026. Delivered to Governor on March 10, 2026. Governor signed on March 14, 2026.
Signed by the Governor
Utility waiver related to industrial symbiosis (HB 1302 – Concerning utility connection charge waivers): Led by Rep Cortes, this bill would allow municipal utilities to waive connection charges for properties owned or developed by public or private organizations that use the property for industrial symbiosis. STATUS: Passed off House floor (76-21-0-1) on January 15, 2026. In the Senate: Passed off the Senate floor (HB 1302: March 06, 2026 – Third reading, passed; yeas, 47-1-0-1) on March 6, 2026. President signed on March 11, 2026. Speaker signed on March 11, 2026. Delivered to Governor on March 12, 2026.
Signed by the Governor
Improving food flows (HB 2238 – Concerning statewide food security): Led by Rep Reeves, this bill would required WA Dept of Agriculture to monitor food system performance, coordinate statewide food security and report to the Legislature every four years. And also require the department to develop a strategy to enhance statewide food security and report to the Legislature by December 1, 2027. A component of the effort would look at food recovery that is going to food banks, specifically by intersecting with Ecology’s Center for Sustainable Food Management. STATUS: Passed off House floor (83-12-0-3) on February 10, 2026. In the Senate: Passed off the Senate floor (45-3-0-1) on March 5, 2026. Delivered to the governor on March 10, 2026.
Signed by the Governor
Cleaning up derelict boats (HB 2199 – Reducing impacts from derelict vessels): Abandoned boats that have sunk or are generally in degraded shape litter our Washington waterways, causing both short- and long-term pollution. Championed by Rep Richards, this bill will make it easier to remove derelict vessels by removing the requirement that the owner is known, able to be located, and exerts control of the vessel. It also allows for the removal of vessels that have been in violation of registration requirements for at least two annual registration periods and are prioritized for removal by DNR or another authorized public entity. STATUS: Passed off House floor (95-0-0-3) on February 11, 2026. In the Senate: Passed off Senate floor (48-0-0-1) on February 28, 2026. Speaker signed on February 28, 2026. President signed on March 3, 2026. Delivered to Governor on March 3, 2026. Governor signed on March 10, 2026.
Signed by the Governor
Spokane incinerator relief (SB 6092 / HB 2416 – Concerning fair treatment of waste to energy facilities under the climate commitment act): Led by Sen Riccelli and Rep. Hill, this bill delays compliance with climate laws. We (statewide environmental groups) worked with Spokane-based environmental groups and with the City to develop a glide path in which the greenhouse gas emissions from the facility will be reduced over time. The City, with strong input from the public, will create a waste management plan as a gameplan for how they will reduce their waste and thus reduce emissions. STATUS: Senate: Referred to Committee on Environment, Energy and Technology on January 13, 2025. House: Passed off House floor (67-30-0-1) on February 17, 2026. In the Senate: Passed off Senate floor (39-10-0-0) on March 4, 2026. House concurred on March 11, 2026. Speaker signed on March 12, 2026. President signed on March 12, 2026. Delivered to Governor on March 12, 2026.
Signed by the Governor
Lead in cookware (SB 5975 / HB 2344 – Providing consumer access to safe cookware and interstate and international trade certainty in the regulation of lead in cookware): Led by Sen Harris and Rep. Low, this bill rolled-back provisions in recent law requiring lead-free cookware. We opposed the initial bill and worked to improve the bill. We did not love the final bill, but the roll-back is not as dramatic as the industry wanted.STATUS: Senate: Passed off Senate floor (42-7-0-0) on February 17, 2026. In the House: Passed off the House floor (86-10-0-2) on March 5, 2026. In the Senate: Concurred on March 9, 2026. Speaker signed on March 11, 2026. Delivered to Governor on March 12, 2026>
#1 Priority bill! Bottle and can recycling refund act – aka Bottle Bill (SB 5502 / HB 1607 – Concerning recycling and waste reduction): 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. Read our factsheet here. STATUS (from 2025): Senate: By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. Moved to Rules White Sheet on January 12, 2026 House: Referred to Rules 2 Review on January 30, 2026. We understand the bill is designated NTIB.
Amending plastic bag law to ban all film plastic bags (SB 5965 / HB 2233 – Reducing environmental impacts associated with bags provided to customers at retail establishments): 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. STATUS: Senate: Passed to Rules Committee for second reading on February 23, 2026. We understand the bill is designated NTIB.
Post-consumer recycled content in additional products/packaging (SB 6156 / HB 2271 – Concerning postconsumer recycled content requirements for plastic products): 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. STATUS: Senate: First reading, referred to Environment, Energy & Technology on January 15, 2026. House: Referred to Rules 2 Review on February 7, 2026.
Expanding paint recycling program (HB 2301 – Concerning extended producer responsibility requirements associated with paint): Led by Rep. Peterson this bill would add more types of paint-related products to be collected and processed under the existing paint program, including paint thinner, paint remover, sealants, aerosol coatings, arts and crafts paint, and automotive, furniture and marine paint. Under the current program, residents bring their oil-based and latex paints to convenient collection sites available in rural and urban locations throughout the state. The paint is reused or recycled when possible. Requiring producers to be responsible for additional paint-related products is a good thing! However, these household hazardous wastes need to be collected and processed differently than latex and oil-based paint. We are working with the paint program representatives to strengthen the bill. STATUS: Referred to Rules 2 Review on February 9, 2026.
Bans DEHP in intravenous solution containers and tubes (HB 2402 – Concerning phthalates in medical equipment used for intravenous purposes): Led by Rep. Stonier, this bill would ban DEHP (a specific phthalate) in intravenous solution containers (by January 1, 2028) or intravenous tubing (by January 1, 2035). STATUS: Referred to Rules 2 Review on February 4, 2026.
EV battery recycling (SB 5586/ HB 1550 – Improving the end-of-life management of electric vehicle batteries): Championed by Sen Derek Stanford and Rep. Chipalo Street, this bill is modeled after NJ law (2024) and bills in CA, NM, CO and NV and sets up a system for ensuring safe recycling or repurposing of EV batteries. EV battery providers would be responsible for responsibly recycling their electric vehicle (EV) batteries to ensure beneficial use of the valuable resources in those batteries. They would be responsible for the cost of collecting and transporting EV batteries from auto recyclers, vehicle wreckers, and other persons with batteries that request the battery provider retrieve the battery. If a battery is significantly modified or used for another purpose, such as energy storage at a solar farm, the responsibility shifts. All entities must manage EV batteries in a manner consistent with a battery waste management hierarchy. STATUS: SENATE: By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status on January 12, 2026. HOUSE: By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status on January 12, 2026.
Textile producer responsibility (SB 6174 / HB 1420– Establishing producer responsibility for textiles): Championed by Rep. Reeves and Sen Lovelett, this bill would set up an extended producer responsibility program for apparel and textiles and restricts toxic PFAS chemicals in textile products. Textiles and fashion, especially fast fashion, harms the environment, waterways, increases carbon emissions, and generates a very large load of waste when people are ready to dispose of items. This bill is modeled after the bill that passed recently in California and emphasizes repair and reuse. STATUS: Senate: Heard in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 8:00 AM on February 4, 2026. House: Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM on February 6, 2026.
Mattress recycling (SB 6271 / HG 2633 – Concerning mattress producer responsibility organizations): Championed by Senator Hunt and Rep. Hall, this bill would establish an extended producer responsibility bill for mattresses. STATUS: Senate: Heard in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 8:00 AM on February 4, 2026. House: Referred to the Committee on Environment and Energy on January 22, 2026.
6ppd in tires (SB 6119 / HB 2421 – Concerning 6PPD and regrettable 6PPD substitutes in tires): Led by Sen. Liias and Rep. Hall, this bill would protect salmon and human health by phasing out 6PPD in tires by 2035 and by establishing a fee on vehicle tires to support a 6PPD mitigation fund. It would incentivize the industry to find and adopt safer solutions and prevents regrettable substitutes to 6PPD that are just as toxic or worse for salmon and people. STATUS: Senate: Heard in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 1:30 PM on January 20, 2026. House: Referred to Rules 2 Review on February 9, 2026.
Environmental crimes (SB 5360 – Concerning environmental crimes): Championed by Sen. Trudeau, this bill would establish new crimes and provide penalties and exceptions, and reclassify existing crimes, for certain violations of the state Water Pollution Control Act, Clean Air Act, Hazardous Waste Management Act, and other specified provisions (environmental laws). It would also provide first-degree and second-degree felony violations for certain offenses under specified environmental laws in the state sentencing grid as seriousness level V and III offenses, respectively. In plain language: it would toughen penalties to make knowingly polluting in a way that puts another person in imminent danger a Class Be felony (instead of a misdemeanor), punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000. STATUS: Senate: Passed off Senate floor (27-22-0-0) on February 17, 2026. In the House: Heard in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 1:30 PM on February 23, 2026.
Cannabis packaging (SB 6303 – Concerning sustainability and safety in cannabis product packaging and vapor devices): Led by Sen. Shewmake, this bill would require the Liquor and Cannabis Board to adopt rules 1) to allow edible cannabis-infused products to be packed in one resealable child-resistant package rather than individual wrappings for each serving, 2) to allow cannabis concentrates and vapor products to be packaged and sold in unit sizes and and multi-unit packages that, in total, contain an amount of tetrahydrocannabinol or cannabis product that is not greater than the maximum quantity that may be sold or provided to a consumer in a single transaction rather than individually packaged 1-gram units currently required, 3) to allow digital batch-level identification methods for plant tracking rather than individual physical tags for each separate plant (which are plastic!), and 4) to allow return to retailer (in a secure, nonpublicly accessible container or receptacle) of open packages, used cannabis vapor devices, and used batteries from consumers for the purpose of recycling or safe disposal. The bill also requires that cannabis vapor devices sold in WA may only use batteries that are designed to be removable from the device. STATUS: Scheduled for executive session, but no action taken, in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM on February 3, 2026.
Filters for commercial/industrial washing machines (HB 2212 – Reducing microplastic pollution from washing machines): Led by Rep. Pollet, this bill would require installation of filters on commercial or industrial washing machines after July 1, 2028. STATUS: Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 1:30 PM on February 2, 2026.
Surplus computers to students (SB 6222 / HB 2432 – Supporting public school students by improving their access to surplus technology hardware): Led by Sen Hunt and Rep. Callan, this bill would allow school districts and educational service districts to sell surplus computer laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices or equipment at depreciated cost to public school students and to grant the hardware at no cost to public school students from low-income families (and they would be prioritized). This bill nicely complements last year’s Right to Repair bill! STATUS: Senate: Passed off Senate floor (49-0-0-0) on February 11, 2026. In the House: Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading on March 2, 2026.
Reusable medical equipment – tax relief (HB 2175 – Exempting providers of free durable medical equipment from retail sales and use tax for certain items): Led by Rep. Klicker, this bill would exempt non-profit providers of free durable medical equipment from retail sales and use tax for items reasonably necessary for the operation of, and provision of health care by, those providers. STATUS: Referred to Rules 2 Review on February 4, 2026.
PFAS in pesticides (HB 2279 – Evaluating the use of PFAS chemicals in agriculture): Led by Rep. Parshley, this bill would establish a Dept of Agriculture program to evaluate the use of PFAS chemicals in fertilizers and pesticides. STATUS: Heard in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 10:30 AM on January 20, 2026.
Reparability of