Recyclers praise ‘powerful' plastics bill in Washington state

The legislation, the Washington Recycling and Packaging Act, could have a big impact on recycling more plastics packaging, including by increasing post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, APR said.

"The bill's powerful combo of EPR, a deposit system and PCR requirements is the gold standard to improve recycling," APR said on Twitter. "If passed, this bill will position [Washington] as a national leader to end plastic waste."

At the hearing, APR Chief Policy Officer Kate Bailey called the bill "best in class" and said it's based on working EPR systems around the world.

"Our members have the capacity right now to recycle nearly twice as much plastic as we do now," she said. "Our greatest challenge is that we are not collecting enough bottles, jugs, tubs and other plastics from households and businesses."

Read the full article from Plastics News.