Washington state's 2023 session ended in May, and three EPR related bills passed.

A new battery EPR bill, HB 5144, passed the legislature and was signed into law. The law, providing for responsible environmental management of batteries, requires producers of covered batteries and battery-containing products to participate in a stewardship organization which plans and provides for battery collection and end-of-life management. Washington became the 10th state to pass a battery EPR law.

Wind Turbines SB 5287, concerning a study on the recycling of wind turbine blades, requires the Washington State University Extension Energy Program to conduct a study on the feasibility of recycling wind turbines blades, including consideration of an EPR program.

A study on targets and community input on Washington state's recycling system: the WRAP Act (packaging EPR) did not pass but the operating budget signed by the Governor, SB 5187/HB 1150, includes a WRAP Act related budget proviso allocating $500,000 to conduct a recycling, reuse, and source reduction targets study and carry out a community input process on the state's current recycling system and report to the legislature by December 2023. This will inform legislative proposals to increase recycling, reuse, and source reduction rates, including consideration of EPR for packaging and paper products.