Modernizing Washington’s Litter Prevention and Cleanup Funding
Agency
Ecology, Department of
Title of action
Modernizing Washington’s Litter Prevention and Cleanup Funding
Date significant agency action was initiated
Thursday, July 3, 2025
Category
Agency-request legislation
Brief description of significant agency actions for which the agency is initiating an environmental justice assessment.
According to Ecology’s latest study (2022), more than 37.8 million pounds of litter accumulates on our roadways and public areas every year. Since 1971, our state has funded litter prevention and clean-up work through a 0.015% tax on the sale of 13 commonly-littered products. However, the tax hasn’t been updated since its inception and current revenues only cover the removal of a fraction of the litter accumulating every year.
Our draft proposal seeks to modernize the litter tax to include the three material types most commonly found as litter that are not currently covered: construction and demolition debris, auto rubber products, and vehicle debris. Adding these products to the litter tax will help ensure Ecology can do the critical work needed to keep our environment clean and litter-free. The litter tax is established under Chapter 82.19.020 RCW. During Tribal consultation and stakeholder engagement later this summer, Ecology is open to input on any additional changes to our litter prevention and clean-up work, established under Chapter 70A.200 RCW.
Methods for providing public comment for agency consideration as part of the environmental justice assessment.
Ecology will invite public input through virtual meetings, facilitated conversations, outreach emails, phone calls and an online public comment period. This outreach will be conducted specifically to Tribes, overburdened communities and vulnerable populations in order to inform decision making on the proposal and the Environmental Justice Assessment during the summer of 2025.
Link to agency webpage where the action is posted.
Status
