First in the nation, statewide drug take-back signed into law

On March 22, 2018, Governor Inslee signed into law HB 1047, protecting the public's health by creating a system for safe and secure collection and disposal of unwanted medications (aka the Secure Drug Take-Back Act). This is the first such statewide product stewardship law for medicine, as well as Washington state's 4th product stewardship law (the other three are E-Cycle Washington (electronics), LightRecycle Washington (mercury-containing lights), and solar stewardship).

The bill is similar to the Secure Medicine Return / MED-Project stewardship programs, funded by manufacturers and mandated by local health ordinances, currently operating in King and Snohomish counties, coming soon to Pierce, Kitsap, Clallam, and Whatcom counties, and passed in March 2018 in Skagit County.