About the state waste plan

The State Solid and Hazardous Waste Plan guides the management of waste and materials in Washington. Similar to how local governments are required to update their solid waste plans every five years, the state tries to do the same. We completed an update in 2021.

The 2021 State Plan retains much from the 2015 plan. It maintains a Sustainable Materials Management approach, and is organized into five sections, each with goals and actions:

  • Managing Hazardous Waste & Materials
  • Managing Solid Wastes & Materials 
  • Reducing Impacts of Materials & Products  
  • Measuring Progress 
  • Providing Outreach & Information  

Vision

We can transition to a society where waste is viewed as inefficient, and where most wastes and toxic substances have been eliminated. This will contribute to economic, social, and environmental vitality.

Priorities

  • Mitigate climate change through waste reduction, reuse, and recycling.
  • Focus on design, manufacturing and use phases, not just on end-of-life issues.
  • Reduce toxic threats in products and industrial processes.
  • Maximize effectiveness of recycling and organic processing systems.

The 2021 State Plan addresses the many changes in the waste world over the past five years. This includes changes in recycling export markets and growing concerns about plastics, food waste, climate change, and toxic chemicals and products. The Washington Legislature implemented new laws in some of these areas. This update addresses these realities as well as continuing the unfinished work from the 2015 plan.

Plan update process

The 2021 update to the state plan included two public comment opportunities.

State plan history

Earlier versions of the plan include: