Washington

SB 6538 would have amended the mercury-containing lights product stewardship program law (RCW 70.275), but the bill did not receive a floor vote before the February 14 deadline and is now dead.

SB 5543 (RCW 70.275) was signed by Governor Gregoire on March 19, 2010. The bill creates a convenient, statewide recycling program for mercury-containing lighting from residents in Washington State starting in 2013.

HB 2056 was signed into law and went into effect in July, 2007. The bill requires beverage vendors at official gatherings and events, in areas for which residential and commercial recycling is already available, to provide recycling for single-serving plastic, glass and aluminum containers.

SB 6145, and its companion bill HB 2540 (PDF) were introduced in January 2012 at the initiative of the paint industry American Coatings Association (A

SSB 5234, the Medicine Take-Back Bill, was introduced in January 2011 but did not move out of the Senate Rules Committee. Re-introduced in January 2012, during the second year of the 2011-2012 biennium, the bill did not get a floor vote and is now dead.

SB 6148, the Washington Small Rechargeable Battery Stewardship Act, was introduced on Jan. 24, 2012. The bill would require rechargeable battery brand owners (manufacturers) to fund and manage a statewide rechargeable battery recycling program for residents and businesses.

In 2006, the WSPHA adopted WSPHA Resolution 06-02 (PDF file, 34KB), a resolution endorsing the Precautionary Principle as a public health tool for preventing harm from persistent bioaccumulative toxic chemicals (PBTs). The Precautionary Principle holds that those who produce goods should be responsible for ensuring they are healthy for the population.

In 2007, landmark legislation, HB 1024 (PDF file, 30KB), was passed to phase out the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) including Deca (Chapter 70.76 RCW). PBDEs are flame retardants used in consumer products.

On April 1, 2008, the Children's Safe Products Act of 2008 (HB 2647 / SB 6530) was signed in to law. The bill prohibits the sale of toys and other children's products containing more than 90 parts per million (ppm) lead, or 40 ppm cadmium, or 1000 ppm of any of six phthalates starting July 1, 2009.

HB 2488, signed into law on March 29, 2004, directed the Washington State Department of Ecology to work with the state Solid Waste Advisory Committee to conduct research and develop recommendations for implementing and financing an electronic product collection, recycling and reuse program.