Coast & Ocean Legislation
The 2025 legislative session draws nigh!
This year's legislative session will kick off on Monday, January 13th. More information coming soon - stay tuned to learn more about what bills we're supporting and ways you can make your voice heard!
Ways to take action:
Below is our bill tracker so you can quickly see where these bills are and what actions you can take to support them. We will keep this updated with opportunities to sign in Pro, submit testimony, and other ways to engage in this year's legislative session. Throughout session, you can always call the Legislative Hotline or contact your electeds:
1. You can email or call your legislators at any time - check out District Finder to find your elected and how to contact their offices directly. Your message should be simple and concise - "Please help eliminate plastic pollution in Washington by supporting Extended Producer Responsibility during the 2025 Legislative Session."
2. We will likely have an in-person lobby day (scheduled to be determined). If you are interested in coming to Olympia to meet with your legislators, email psteelquist@surfrider.org.
3. Call the Legislative Hotline at any time during session at 1-800-562-6000 to leave a voice message for your Representative and Senator in support of our bills.
4. Follow Surfrider Washington's social media and keep an eye on our newsletter for action alerts about other ways you can stop plastic pollution at its source.
Plastic Pollution
Support Extended Producer Responsibility in WA
Last year the ReWRAP Act failed to pass, but this year we are reintroducing similar legislation thanks to our bill's sponsor and champion, Rep. Liz Berry. The new Washington Recycling Reform Act will be very similar to the ReWRAP Act and, if passed, will overhaul Washington's recycling system:
- Incentivize producers to make reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging
- Reduce pollution causing climate change - higher use of recycled content in packaging materials means fewer emissions and less energy
- Provide universal recycling services for Washingtonians - all residents who currently have curbside garbage pickup will receive curbside recycling service
- Reduce confusion and contamination by developing a clear list of universally recycled products
- Reduce packaging and increase reuse - targets will be developed for increased recycling rates as well as reuse and refill
- Support Washington’s economy and the creation of new, green jobs by building local supply chains and recycling businesses
EPR resources:
Clean Water
Sewage Spill Right To Know Act
Dozens of sewage spills occur every year and few are widely reported to the general public. The public has a right to know when and where sewage spills occur, but only find out rarely and only in the event of closures of recreation access and/or fishing. Sewage discharges contributed to a range of environmental harms including toxics exposure and bacterial pollution. Spill reports to the Department of Ecology are not searchable or compiled and available in a timely way to the public to use for active decisionmaking for personal pollution exposure. At least 10 other states such as South Carolina, Connecticut, and Massachusetts have a public disclosure hub and right to know law on the books, but Washington does not. This policy would require the Department of Ecology to establish a public-facing website with maps and searchable sewage spill records.
Resources: