Think Outside the Landfill

Updated May 24, 2012

Solid Waste Laws Update Project on Hold

Due to budget constraints, the Dept of Ecology Waste 2 Resources program is putting the solid waste laws update project on hold for the remainder of the biennium (June 30, 2013).

This project collected much useful information on solid waste law problems and priorities. This information will still be useful when we are able to renew efforts on streamlining our laws. You will be notified by listserv when this project resumes.

Thank you for your interests and efforts in updating our solid waste laws.

Survey results

The results of the 2011 prioritization survey about problems with solid waste laws are available. Ecology will use the prioritization results when work on this project continues.

Guiding Document:

"Summary of Problems with Solid Waste Laws in Washington: Themes and Subthemes"
This summarizes comments heard at meetings Ecology held in 2010 to discuss problems with solid waste laws. We intend to use these themes and subthemes when the solid waste laws update process continues.

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We create a lot of waste in Washington

Click on image for larger version.
Citation: Solid Waste in Washington State, 18th Annual Status Report, publication 09-07-038

We generated nearly 16 million tons of waste in 2008. That's more than two and a half tons per person. Some of it was recycled or otherwise diverted from disposal, but not enough. We threw away nine million tons, even though much of it was not really "waste." For example, since 2003, we've buried more than $1 billion worth of recyclable materials in landfills. We have yet to reach the 1995 recycling goal of 50 percent. Click on the graph to the right to see how waste generation continues to grow faster than our population.

We've done a lot of things right!

Washington State is seen as a leader in solid waste management and recycling. In the mid 1980's Washington's recycling rate was less than 20 percent. Significant recycling and waste reduction laws were passed in 1989. Since then:

Local governments worked hard implementing programs and policies to achieve higher rates of recycling.
Private industry invested in equipment to collect recyclable materials.
Markets responded to new available flows of material.

Today, our recycling rate is 45 percent.

We can do better!

With new approaches to handling materials come new challenges to protect human health and the environment. Today we have new products that weren't imagined 40 years ago. We also have solid waste handling facilities that weren't around either, along with a lot more waste. We can reduce wastes and conserve materials:

Eliminating waste wherever possible.
Reducing product toxicity.
Recycling the materials we use.
Disposing of residuals safely.

Updating our laws can better address current solid waste management challenges and help us move "beyond waste":

Encourage efficient use of materials.
Improve environmental performance of products.
Use the competitive market economy to promote innovative technologies and creative materials use.
Ensure safe operation of materials management facilities.
Responsibly regulate solid waste disposal facilities.
Provide stable funding for local programs across the state.