State Specific Policy Resources: Washington

Auxiliary Containers

• Wash. Rev. Code Title 70A, Ch. 70A.455 Plastic Product Degradability; § 70A.455.010 to § 70A.455.120

Electronics Recycling

• Wash. Rev. Code Title 70A, Ch. 500 Electronic Product Recycling; § 70A.500.010 to § 70A.500.901
• WA Dept. of Ecology - E-Cycle Washington

Materials Theft

• Metals Theft Law (as amended by 2023 Washington SB 5542, effective July 23, 2023)
  • Wash. Rev. Code Title 19, Chapter 19.290 Metal Property; § 19.290.010 to § 19.290.901
  • Wash. Rev. Code Title 9A, Chapter 9A.56 Theft and Robbery
    • § 9A.56.030 Theft in the first degree.
    • § 9A.56.410 Metal Property deception.
• ReMA Summary of Washington Metal Scrap Statute (August 30, 2023)

Recycled Content Mandates

• RCW Title 70A, Ch. 245 Recycling, Waste, and Litter Reduction; § 70A.245.010 - § 70A.245.120 (as created by 2021 Washington SB 5022)
• Washington DEC's 2021 Plastics Laws page includes compliance and rulemaking information on their recycled content mandates for the following products, as well as restrictions on single-use serviceware, phased EPS product ban, and plastic bag ban:
  • Plastic trash bags: 10% by 2023; 15% by 2025; 20% by 2027.
  • Plastic beverage bottles (except for dairy and 187ml wine): 15% by 2023; 25% by 2026; and 50% by 2031.
  • Household cleaner and personal care packaging: 15% by 2025; 25% by 2028; 50% by 2031.
  • Dairy and 187ml wine: 15% by 2028; 25% by 2031; 50% by 2036.

Scrap Yard / Junk Yard Zoning

• Wash. Rev. Code Title 47, Chapter 47.41 Junkyards Adjacent to Interstate and Primary Highways; § 47.41.010 to § 47.41.900

State / Municipal Programs

• Wash. Rev. Code Title 70A Environmental Health and Safety
• Ch. 70A.240 Recycling Development Center; § 70A.240.010 to § 70A.240.040
• Ch. 70A.520 Plastic Packaging - Evaluation and Assessment; § 70A.520.010 to § 70A.520.900 (ReMA note: directs the Dept. to report to the legislature by Oct. 31, 2020 on findings to reduce plastic packaging, including through industry initiative or Extended Producer Responsibility, to achieve 100% recyclable, reuseable, or compostable packaging and achieve at least 20% postconsumer recycled content by 2025)

State Superfund (no SREA equivalent)

• Wash. Rev. Code Title 70A, Ch. 70A.305 Hazardous Waste Cleanup - Model Toxics Control Act; § 70A.305.010 to § 70A.305.904

Stormwater Permitting

• WA DOE - Industrial Stormwater General Permit Information
• Industrial Stormwater General Permit - Final
  Issued: 11/20/19; Effective: 01/01/20; Expires: 12/31/24
• WQWebPortal - Apply for a permit, report discharge data, submit other documents

Tire / Rubber

• ReMA note: Wash. Rev. Code Title 70A, Ch. 70A.205, § 70.95.500 to § 70.95.570 are the primary tire recycling sections among those listed below.
• Wash. Rev. Code Title 28A, Ch. 28A.355, § 28A.335.300 Playground matting. (ReMA note: requires school board of directors consider recycled rubber playground matting)
• Wash. Rev. Code Title 43 State Government - Executive
• Ch. 43.19, § 43.19.648 Publicly owned vehicles, vessels, and construction equipment—Fuel usage—Advisory committee—Tires. (ReMA note: procurement standards for tires)
• Ch. 43.19A Recycled Product Procurement
• § 43.19A.020 Recycled product purchasing—Federal product standards. (ReMA note: includes retread and remanufactured tires)
• § 43.19A.050 Strategy for state agency procurement. (ReMA note: includes retread and remanufactured tires)
• Wash. Rev. Code Title 46 Motor Vehicles
• Ch. 46.04 Definitions
• § 46.04.300 Metal tire.
• § 46.04.410 Pneumatic tires.
• § 46.04.550 Solid tire.
• Ch. 46.37 Vehicle Lighting and Other Equipment
• § 46.37.369 Wheels and front suspension.
• § 46.37.420 Tires—Restrictions.
• § 46.37.4215 Lightweight and retractable studs—Certification by sellers.
• § 46.37.4216 Lightweight and retractable studs—Sale of tires containing.
• § 46.37.423 Pneumatic passenger car tires—Standards—Exception for off-highway use—Penalty.
• § 46.37.424 Regrooved tires—Standards—Exception for off-highway use—Penalty.
• § 46.37.425 Tires—Unsafe—State patrol's authority—Penalty.
• § 46.37.427 Studded tire fee.
• § 46.37.539 Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Additional requirements and limitations. (ReMA note: requires compliance with § 46.37.420)
• Ch. 46.79, § 46.79.020 Transporting junk vehicles to scrap processor—Removal of parts, restrictions. (ReMA note: permits hulk haulers and scrap processors to prepare vehicles and vehicle salvage by removing listed parts, including tires)
• Wash. Rev. Code Title 47 Public Highways and Transportation
• Ch. 47.04, § 47.04.010 Definitions. (ReMA note: defining terms for Title 47, includes tire definitions)
• Ch. 47.41, § 47.41.020 Definitions. (ReMA note: screening and zoning requirements; "junk" includes rubber debris and parts of junked automobiles)
• Wash. Rev. Code Title 70A Environmental Health and Safety
• Ch. 70A.15 Washington Clean Air Act
• § 70A.15.3600 Limitations on use of solid fuel burning devices. (ReMA note: includes rubber products)
• § 70A.15.5010 Outdoor burning—Fires prohibited—Exceptions. (ReMA note: includes rubber products)
• Ch. 70A.205 Solid Waste Management—Reduction and Recycling
• § 70A.205.005 Legislative finding—Priorities—Goals. (ReMA note: states imperative need for recycling of discarded tires)
• § 70A.205.010 Purpose. (ReMA note: includes encouraging storage, proper disposal, and recycling of discarded vehicle tires)
• § 70A.205.210 Duties of department—State solid waste management plan—Assistance—Coordination—Tire recycling.
• § 70A.205.240 Determination of best solid waste management practices—Department to develop method to monitor waste stream—Collectors to report quantity and quality of waste—Confidentiality of proprietary information. (ReMA note: § 70.95.290 includes tires in the evaluation)
• § 70A.205.250 Solid waste stream evaluation. (ReMA note: includes tires in the evaluation under § 70.95.280)
• § 70A.205.400 Disposal of vehicle tires outside designated area prohibited—Penalty—Exemption.
• § 70A.205.405 Fee on the retail sale of new replacement vehicle tires.
• § 70A.205.410 Fee on the retail sale of new replacement vehicle tires—Failure to collect, pay to department—Penalties.
• § 70A.205.415 Waste tire removal account.
• § 70.95.530 Waste tire removal account—Use—Information required to be posted to department's web site.
• § 70A.205.420 Waste tire removal account—Use of moneys—Transfer of any balance in excess of one million dollars to the motor vehicle account.
• § 70A.205.430 Disposition of fee.
• § 70A.205.435 Cooperation with department to aid tire recycling.
• § 70A.205.440 Waste tires—Definitions.
• § 70A.205.445 Waste tires—License for transport or storage business—Requirements.
• § 70A.205.450 Waste tires—Violation of RCW 70.95.555—Penalty.
• § 70A.205.455 Waste tires—Contracts with unlicensed persons prohibited.
• § 70A.205.460 Limitations on liability.
• Ch. 70A.435 Replacement of Lead Wheel Weights
• § 70A.435.030 Replacement of lead wheel weights with environmentally preferred wheel weights—Failure to comply.
• § 70A.435.040 Department's duties—Enforcement sequence.
• Wash. Rev. Code Title 81, Ch. 81.61 § 81.61.020 Minimum standards for safe maintenance and operation of passenger-carrying vehicles—Rules and orders—Scope. (ReMA note: grants the Utilities and Transportation Commission authority over passenger-carrying vehicles provided by a railroad to transport employees, including over tires)
• Wash. Rev. Code Title 82 Excise Taxes
• Ch. 82.08, § 82.08.036 Exemptions—Vehicle battery core deposits or credits—Replacement vehicle tire fees—"Core deposits or credits" defined. (ReMA note: retail sales tax does not include tire fee)
• Ch. 82.12, § 82.12.038 Exemptions—Vehicle battery core deposits or credits—Replacement vehicle tire fees—"Core deposits or credits" defined. (ReMA note: Use Tax Chapter provisions do not apply to tire fee)
• Wash. Rev. Code Title 87, Ch. 87.84, § 87.84.061 Directors—Additional powers. (ReMA note: grants the directors of an irrigation and rehabilitation district the power to regulate various items, including tires, except on state highways)

Vehicle Detitling / Dismantling

• Wash. Rev. Code Title 35, Ch. 35.21, § 35.21.407 Abandoned or derelict vessels. (ReMA Note: city or town authority)
• Wash. Rev. Code Title 35A, Ch. 35A.21, § 35.21.320 Abandoned or derelict vessels. (ReMA Note: code city authority)
• Wash. Rev. Code Title 36, Ch. 36.32, § 36.32.620 Abandoned or derelict vessels. (ReMA Note: county authority)
• Wash. Rev. Code Title 46 Motor Vehicles
• Ch. 46.04, § 46.04.514 Salvage Vehicle.
• Chapter 46.55 Towing and Impoundment.
• § 46.55.010 Definitions.
• Impounding Unauthorized Vehicles; § 46.55.070 to § 46.55.118
• § 46.55.130 Notice requirements -- Public auction -- Accumulation of storage.
• § 46.55.230 Junk vehicles -- Removal, disposal, sale -- Penalties -- Cleanup restitution payment. (ReMA Note: does not directly mention recyclers / processors, but is referenced by other sections)
• § 46.55.240 Local ordinances -- Requirements. (ReMA Note: includes that local governments may establish ordinances for the abatement and removal as public nuisances of junk vehicles or parts from private property)
• Chapter 46.79 Hulk Haulers and Scrap Processors; § 46.79.010 to § 46.79.130
• Chapter 46.80 Vehicle Wreckers; § 46.80.005 to § 46.80.900
• Wash. Rev. Code Title 53, Ch. 53.08, § 53.08.410 Abandoned or derelict vessels. (ReMA Note: port district authority)
• Wash. Rev. Code Title 70A, Ch. 70A.230 Mercury
• § 70A.230.010 Definitions.
• § 70A.230.050 Prohibited sales -- Novelties, manometers, thermometers, thermostats, motor vehicles, bulk mercury.
• Wash. Rev. Code Title 77, Ch. 77.12, § 77.12.465 Abandoned or derelict vessels. (Fish and Wildlife authority)
• Wash. Rev. Code Title 79, Ch. 79.100, § 79.100.030 Authority of authorized public entity -- Owner retains primary responsibility -- Limitation on civil liability. (ReMA Note: derelict vessels).