recycling development center work plan · web viewthe center works in consultation with a...

Work Plan for the Washington State Recycling Development Center Working document

First draft – April 2020, Advisory Board review Second draft – May 2020, Board member comments

o Edits/comments added in this order: Derek Ruckman, Heather Trim (“user” comments), Karl Englund, Kyla Fisher, Sego Jackson, Tim Shestek, Deb Geiger, Nina Goodrich, Margo Gillaspy

Table of Content

Recycling Development Center work plan

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Work Plan for the Washington State Recycling Development Center.........................................................1

The Center...................................................................................................................................................3

Legislative Direction................................................................................................................................3

Center Organization....................................................................................................................................4

Center Agency Team................................................................................................................................4

Advisory board........................................................................................................................................4

Work Plan....................................................................................................................................................5

Effective Partnerships..............................................................................................................................6

Help Businesses/Create Green Jobs........................................................................................................7

Research Solutions - Waste and Recycling System Policy Analysis; Economic and Business Incentive Policies Analysis.......................................................................................................................................8

Advance Technology................................................................................................................................8

Next Steps...................................................................................................................................................9

List of footnotes..........................................................................................................................................9

Attachment 1 - Solid Waste Data...............................................................................................................10

Note about this work plan:Development of the Recycling Development Center’s (Center) first work plan occurred over several months in 2020 (April to July).

DRAFT with Board revisions and comments 2 05/08/20


The CenterThe Washington State Recycling Development Center (Center) was created within the Department of Ecology (Ecology) in partnership with the Department of Commerce (Commerce) (Chapter 70.370 Revised Code of Washington (RCW)).

Consistent with the State Solid and Hazardous Waste Plan, the Center’s vision is to eliminate most wastes and use any remaining waste as resources. The Center mission is to provide or facilitate basic and applied research and development, marketing, and policy analysis in furthering the development of markets and processing for recycled commodities and products.

Market development consists of public and private activities to incentivize action and overcome impediments preventing full and productive use of secondary materials diverted from the waste stream, and that encourage and expand use of those materials and subsequent products. The Center will initially focus on businesses that transform or remanufacture waste materials into usable or marketable materials or products for use rather than disposal.

Legislative DirectionThis work plan describes Center “actions and recommendations for developing markets for commodities comprising a significant percentage of the waste stream and having potential for use as an industrial or commercial feedstock, with initial focus on mixed waste paper and plastics” (RCW 70.370.030 (3)(a))actions to support market development for commodities collected from the waste stream. The law directed the Center to:

Identify materials that are a significant percentage of the waste stream. Identify materials that have potential for use as an industrial or commercial feedstock. Initially focus on mixed waste paper and plastics.

The Center will: Evaluate, analyze, and make recommendations regardingon state policies that may affect

markets for recyclable materials. Work with manufacturers and producers of packaging and other difficult to recycle materials

and other potentially recyclable materials on their work to increase recyclabilitythe ability of their products to be recycled or reduced in Washington, including other prevalent and difficult to recycle materials.

Initiate, conduct, and/or contract for studies relating to market development for recyclable materials/products, including but not limited to applied research, processing/recycling, technology transfer, life-cycle analysis, and pilot demonstration projects.

Obtain and disseminate information relating to market development for recyclable materials from other state and local agencies and other sources.

Provide grants or contracts to local governments, state agencies, or other public institutions to further the development or revitalization of recycling markets in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.

Provide business and marketing assistance to public and private sector entities within the state. Work to create a regional recycling development council that will work across either state or

provincial borders, or both. Advocate for policies that create a circular economy and deter from abundant linear supply

chains.


Sego Jackson, 04/30/20,

I’ve provided a lot of comments below and not many solutions. After reading the work plan a couple of times, I can’t quite figure out where some things fit in. and I can’t really read the plan and feel like it is a plan for action. For example: 1. ACC interest in an effort to advance film collection/processing/market system in the state as a pilot. Are we seeking pilots? Are we out to actually establish or demonstrate anything? Can we seek/receive/give/funnel grants to efforts?2. There is interest in a large receive, wash, sterilize redeploy center for reusable and refillable packaging. Where does that fit in? 3. There could be stimulus grant funds to help businesses – what is the potential? Similarly, many existing reuse/recycling businesses may be on the brink of collapse – what can we do? 4. A chemical recycling facility is looking to locate in the next year in Washington. What is our role, how can we help? 5. What is our role in really identifying gaps and focusing our efforts specifically on those gaps.6. Right when the circular economy lingo has caught on with businesses and motivated them to rally around, the term is not used here. Or even materials management. Or any of the motivational drivers that we hear in the community – green jobs, new green economy. Etc. These words don’t have to be used but I think we want to paint a picture of inspiration, moving into the future, actions that get the job done, etc.

Derek Ruckman, 04/30/20,

One of the things I am recommending to King County is an innovation accelerator program with the following participants:King CountySPUWACSWMPNNLWSU/UWCascadia ConsultingEcologyDevelopment CenterThis program would be similar to Arizona’s incubator programhttps://sustainability.asu.edu/resourceinnovation/risnincubator/


Life Cycle Analysis has many known issues with it. I might suggest looking at a Social or S-LCA. https://www.lifecycleinitiative.org/starting-life-cycle-thinking/life-cycle-approaches/social-lca/

Steward, Kara (ECY) [2], 06/19/20,

Nina Goodrich comment: When I look at the legislative directive to focus on paper and plastic a few thoughts come to mind. Paper sorting challenges:From a global trend perspective many types of protective packaging products are currently in plastics (Foam) and are moving to paper. These are 3D structures that may or may not sort in the current paper stream. There are also significant hybrid packages that will be made of paper and plastic coatings. This is an opportunity area but also a potential increase in contamination.Cartons for juice and milk. These paper packages polarize our recycling community. NORPAC wants them but many communities refuse to collect them or sort them. What would an intervention for cartons look like? Are there enough in Washington to make it worthwhile?Films:HDPE/LDPE - these were two of the biggest plastics categories in Table 4. Is one films and the other rigid or are they mixed? Film recycling is a real opportunity. The post commercial and post industrial volumes added to post consumer volumes are significant. In the recent West Coast Contamination Study published by TRP last week. Plastic bags are a huge contaminant and are often present in programs that do not allow them. Films and bags need a collection mechanism beyond grocery store take back programs. Could we pilot collection bins like BC is doing for films? Could we look at supporting chemical recycling options to manage our film waste? I think of all the materials I have listed this is the area with the biggest need.Plastic Container sorting challenges:PET Thermoforms - Usually not wanted in a PET bottle bale, but not really a contaminant. Could we sortPolypropylene: Is often sorted into a 3-7 stream. What would an intervention look like to get folks to sort it out of 3-7 bales. Would there be enough in Washington to make it worthwhile?3-7 plastics: Plastics to fuel or chemical recycling?Would a regional secondary MRF to do the extra sorting be worthwhile?


As a recycler this is great…but not on its own. We need recycled content laws, design laws and bans on single use.

User, 05/04/20,

I would broaden this. Are we just focusing on secondary?This could be included in the goal’s committee effort

User, 05/04/20,

Would frame this more in the positive

Karl Englund, 04/29/20,

Do we also want to add more mission descriptions by describing the research aspect and how the center will be a part of this?


Again, appears to have and end-of-life focus which is only part of the problem. For example, plastics. The problem with plastics is multi-faceted. Ellen Macarthur in the “New Plastics Economy” has identified that 4 things that need to happen to fix plastic waste. 30% of plastics needs to be redesigned, 20% needs to converted to reuse (including bans on bags, beverage bottles, etc.), 50% needs better markets and economics. https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/our-work/activities/new-plastics-economy


I am not sure how much wiggle room we have, or can as a board, advise. I’ve read the law several times and can argue it either way – but the issue is this – there are going to be needs and opportunities to address markets and processes for reusables, refillables, salvaged materials. Reuse as a precursor to recycling. I am hoping that this can fall within the domain of the Recycling Development Center also. It probably should have been legislated as and named the Reuse and Recycling Development Center. In some cases, replacing difficult to recycle items with reusables/refillables will be far more effective than trying to develop markets for those materials. I can provide many examples, but just from today, Goodwill has an enormous amount of furniture and consumer dishware and glassware it receives and cannot utilize. It is being landfilled. NW Furniture Bank https://www.nwfurniturebank.org/ serves those who need assistance outfitting their homes and kitchens. They need furniture and glassware. With Stimulus funds and what is like to be a very devastating economic picture for many families, we should not turn our back on potential areas like these that may not strictly fall under recycling of secondary materials. Likewise, there are already thoughts about the need for a wash, sanitation facility for scaling reusable refillable packaging in greater Seattle area. I was on a webinar this morning and Dispatch Goods and especially Loop were describing just the type facilities that there is discussion of the need for in Washington. These are jobs, facilities and economic development that work higher up the hierarchy than recycling.

User, 05/04/20,

Suggest rewording as this strikes me as being more about strategies than mission. This could be included in the goal’s committee effort


Maybe something like … the Center’s vision is to find value in our waste stream, while minimizing our waste footprint…

Margo Gillaspy, 05/01/20,

I don’t think that is necessarily our main vision. I might reword it to “foster and support a strong recycling system within Washington state”


From what I can tell the Plan really focuses on material management and takes a holistic approach to all types of waste, not just end-of-life waste. Specifically, it says “is our strategic plan to support the waste management hierarchy established in the main solid and hazardous waste statutes, which identify reduction as the highest priority”. I would reword to be consistent with Sustainable Material Management and going upstream with a focus on “reduction” as the highest priority of waste.

https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1504019.html

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.370&full=true


Under an interagency agreement with Ecology, Commerce will: Provide assistance to recycling businesses that may include:

o Development of business plans;o Market research and planning information;o Referral and information on market conditions; ando Information on new technology and product development.

Conduct outreach and surveys to negotiate voluntary agreements with manufacturers establish barriers and solutions to the increased the use of recycled materials in products and product development;

Inventory, Ssupport, promote, and identify research and development to stimulate new recycling technologies and products using recycled materials;

Actively promote manufacturing with recycled commodities, as well as purchasing of recycled products by state agencies consistent with and in addition to the requirements of chapter 43.19A RCW and RCW 39.26.255, local governments, and the private sector;

Undertake studies on the unmet capital and other needs of reprocessing and manufacturing firms using recycled materials, such as financing and incentive programs; and

Conduct research to understand the waste stream supply chain and incentive strategies for retention, expansion, and attraction of innovative recycling technology businesses.

Center Organization The Center works in consultation with a fourteen-member Advisory Board; membership is outlined in the law (Chapter 70.370 RCW). Additionally, whenever needed, the Center will work with material recovery facility operators; public and private sector reuse, recycling, and solid waste industries; packaging manufacturers and retailers; local governments; environmental organizations; interested colleges and universities; and state agencies, including the department of commerce and the utilities and transportation commission.

Every other year, the Center will submit a report to the legislature on the progress of achieving the center's purpose and performing the center's activities. The first report to the legislature is due in December of 2020. That report will summarize effects on state recycling rates or rates of utilization of postconsumer materials in manufactured products that can reasonably be attributed, at least in part, to the activities of the Center.

Center Agency TeamEcology and Commerce partner in the work of the Recycling Development Center. Primary contacts for Ecology and Commerce are:

Advisory board


Ecology

Kara [email protected]

Commerce

Brian [email protected]

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.370&full=true

http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=39.26.255

http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.19A


The law details the representation of the board and directs the board to meet at least quarterly (RCW 70.370.040). The purpose of the advisory board is to provide advice and support to Ecology and Commerce on related to the work of the Center. In October 2019, the Directors of Ecology and Commerce invited the representatives listed in Table 1 to participate as advisory board members.

Information about advisory board activities is available to all interested parties and provided online1. All advisory board meetings will be offered as conference calls or webinars. Interested parties may attend (space available) and will be offered an opportunity to participate. Ecology schedules and facilitates board meetings.

Table 1 Recycling Development Center Advisory BoardBoard Member Organization Phone EmailAllen Langdon Encorp Pacific –

Returnit604-473-2416 [email protected]

Corinne Drennan Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

509-372-6330 [email protected]

Deb Geiger Spokane County Solid Waste


Derek Ruckman Recology 206-619-0892 [email protected] Englund, Board CoChair

Washington State University


Heather Trim Zero Waste Washington


Jay Simmons North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC)


Kyla Fisher AMERIPEN 602-540-7544 [email protected] Gillaspy Skagit County Public

Works Department360-416-1400 [email protected]

Mike Range Waste Management 253-344-8594 [email protected] Goodrich Sustainable Packaging

Coalition866-904-9666 [email protected]

Scott Morgan, Board Chair

The Evergreen State College


Sego Jackson Seattle Public Utilities 206-615-0706 [email protected] Shestek American Chemistry

Council 916-448-2581 [email protected]

omJason Lewis* Utilities and

Transportation Commission


* non-voting board member

1 https://www.ezview.wa.gov/site/alias__1962/37596/recycling_development_center_advisory_board.aspx


Margo Gillaspy, 05/01/20,

I think the purpose of the board is to provide advice but also to represent the board

mailto:[email protected]














https://www.ezview.wa.gov/site/alias__1962/37596/recycling_development_center_advisory_board.aspx

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.370.040

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.370.040


Figure 1 Advisory Board Quarterly Meetings (2020)

Work PlanOn January 9, 2020, the Washington State Departments of Ecology and Commerce hosted the first Recycling Development Center (Center) advisory board meeting at Highline College in Des Moines, Washington. In collaboration with interested parties that group created a list of 200 ideas for the Center2. Those ideas and the requirements in the law were used to prioritize the Center work for calendar years 2020 and 2021 to focus on partnerships, research, business assistance, and technology.

Figure 3 – Work plan contents

General comments

My suggestion is that research be first in order. I will put more comments below on the research section but if we don’t have a solid idea of the prioritization of the specific items to tackle, it seems to me that it is less effective to do the other strategies. We can do a “all at once” strategy (which takes advantage of opportunities as they arise) but I feel like we also should be strategic.

2 https://www.ezview.wa.gov/Portals/_1962/Documents/rdcab/010920NOTES.pdf


Quarter 1January 9Highline CollegeDes Moines, WA

Quarter 2April 14Webinar

Quarter 3July 14NORPACLongview, WA

Quarter 4October 13TBDSpokane, WA


Using these same categories, I think they could be far more visionary and action oriented, such as:Effective PartnershipsHelp Businesses/Create Green JobsResearch SolutionsAdvance Technology

https://www.ezview.wa.gov/Portals/_1962/Documents/rdcab/010920NOTES.pdf


Overall, these are great ideas. I mainly think they need to be clarified and made a bit more strategic (which, of course, is why I am wanting to get the goals and measure of success work done first so that can help inform this workplan).

Throughout, it would be good to include an underlying emphasis on access for all (geographic spread, equity issues, etc.) as well as potential job creation. Again, this concept could be incorporated into goals and measures of success effort.

Effective Partnerships Conduct outreach – Center will reach out to material recovery facility operators; public and

private sector recycling and solid waste industries; packaging manufacturers and retailers; local governments; environmental organizations; colleges and universities; and state agencies. Call out local economic development agencies. These outreach efforts will be used to solicit feedback on Center activities, identify data needs and gaps to help determine work of the Center. Facilitate conversations across a variety of stakeholders, including recycling industries, industry trade associations, product manufacturers and others to solicit recycling industries to get input on potential center projects and share results. Include a GAP analysis or a SWOT of WA state recycling infrastructure: What do MRFs need to better sort, what materials are harder to recover, where are reprocessors or end markets lacking etc. Use this information to map the WA system

o Timeline : 2020 and ongoing.

Develop partnerships – with other similar councils in the region – Center will engage with other recycling councils3 and coalitions to identify work that the Center could conduct to assist and improve collection, processing and market development markets in Washington or the Pacific Northwest. Center will communicate with Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, CalRecycle and British Columbia Ministry of Environment advisory councils and staff to discuss identify and potentially act on opportunities for regional collaboration on recycling market efforts,economic development and green jobs..

Center will reach out to other entities involved in recycling (for example, the Ocean Conservancy, The Recycling Partnership, and Ellen MacArthur Foundation) as well as regional universities, laboratories, associations, municipalities to collaborate on research and development of recycling related activities.

Develop partnerships with industries, the packaging industry, C&D and other materials to understand and plan for future trends.

o Timeline : research other existing councils in 2020; plans for harmonizing work and identifying collaborative activities by 2021.

Share information – Information will be brought to Board for discussion of potential action and Rresults of Center work will be posted online, scheduling and agendas for advisory board meetings will be posted online and shared by email, in-person and webinar attendance will be available for advisory board meetings.


3 https://nerc.org/projects/completed-projects/



This shows a pathway for public sector council partnerships. Is there another pathway for private sector partnerships? How will we coordinate with the private sector? role in about coordination with industry lead groups, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Sustainable Packaging Coalition, or with individual companies like Starbucks, Amazon or the many others headquartered in WA?


These public sector partnerships should also include local government market development efforts of significance with dedicated staffing. King County and Metro come to mind. Also ,maybe an inventory of the business development activities that already exist that might be tapped into would be good.


How about recycling councils and coalitions? Also about the EU Environment Agency? Ocean Conservancy, Recycling Partnership, Ellen Macarthur. Just think we need diversity of partnership versus nearby government entities.


You could also add working with regional univeristy’s DOE labs, associations, muncipitalities etc… to collaborate on research and development of recycling related activities…. Or not….

Kyla Fisher, 05/01/20,

I would also consider looking at programs that help drove recycled content or provide info on reuse. More Recycling’s new circularity platform and buy recycled campaign. Material marketplaces via Sustainable Business Council (if you don’t have a material marketplace in WA that could be a quick win for you to develop). APR Demand Champions program etc.


Add ReMADE. City of Phoenix RISN, Association of Plastics Recyclers -others your peer RMDcs leverage. What also about partnerships with industries. Work with packaging industry, C&D and other materials to understand and plan for future trends. What other avenues do you have to understand trend sand demographics and impact that will have on your work? (ex: Immigration impacts, housing stats etc)

User, 05/04/20,

Need clarity on the purpose of the partnershipsThis could be included in the goal’s committee effort


I would call out a GAP analysis or a SWOT of WA state recycling infrastructure. What do MRFs need to better sort, what materials are harder to recover, where are reprocessors or end markets lacking etc. I’d make it less about feedback and more about mapping the WA system


I would suggest specifically calling out local economic development agencies.


Circular economy, jobs, economic development and equity and social justice should be woven throughout.

https://nerc.org/projects/completed-projects/


Help Businesses/Create Green Jobs assistance4

Market analysis – Conduct analysis of waste stream supply chain and incentive strategies, including policy changes to facilitate the for retention, expansion, and attraction of recycling businesses, innovative technology businesses, in addition to assistance for waste reduction innovations for businessesinnovative recycling technology businesses.

o Timeline : 2020.

Funding opportunities – Develop a list of opportunities for funding and financing to assist recycling markets, based on strategic goals and research results. This will assist with improving and expanding collection and processing infrastructure and establishing sustainable markets for recovered materials. This effort will include coordination with the Washington Economic Development economic development boards in Washington.

o Timeline : 2020 – 2021 and regularly updated.

Business development – Provide business assistance to existing, new and expanding businesses involved in recycling and use of recovered materials, based on strategic goals and research results. Share recycling data and assist with regulatory compliance to interested businesses looking to expand into Washington State.


Research Solutions - Waste and Recycling System Policy Analysis; Economic and Business Incentive Policies Analysis

Waste and recycling data 5 – Center will use Ecology solid waste data reports to identify the highest need and map the movement of collected materials (curbside, commercial, industrial, and institutional) to processing operations and identify end markets. Center staff would conduct Contract for additional research into the waste stream and supply chain, for example, packaging manufacturers, retailers. This analysis will be used to develop materials maps forevaluate volume and/or weight of recyclable commodities, especially materials used as industrial or commercial feedstocks. Need a GAP assessment and SWOT of the state or regional capacity as well as feedstock capacity to speak to businesses on their opportunity.

o Timeline : 2020, with updates.

Policy analysis – Contract for an analysis of policies that expand and sustain environmentally and socially just reuse and recycling markets, improve processing and remanufacture capabilities, encourage business development, and provide for local green jobs . Contract for an analysis of existing solid waste and recycling regulations, identify barriers and opportunities in order to maximize the collection and processing of materials under the current system, based on strategic goals and research results. Include research on policies used in other jurisdictions (for example, the Netherlands, Wales, Germany) and an evaluation of their impact on our current

4 http://choosewashingtonstate.com/ 5 https://ecology.wa.gov/Research-Data/Data-resources/Solid-waste-recycling-data


User, 05/04/20,

I would want to clarify what this means before the contract is let. Is it state or local or both? Is it looking at other non-solid waste laws?


This rewrite is more what I think we need for framing some of the work so that we and others are excited about it, want to pitch in and figure it out and make it happen.


I would caution this needs to be restricted to market development. So ways to increase PCR, reduce contamination, advance market development but not things like material bans, hazardous waste etc. need to define and restrict to the scope of the RMDC


What we need is a gap analysis – what sort of remanufacturing do we need. (Seattle/KC started down a path 5 years or so ago of identifying all the plastic manufacturers in the state and we wanted to look at who could use recycled content if available.) Do we need a PRF, or two, and/or chemical recycler, and wash and pelletize film plant, etc. What do we need on the paper side? Etc.

User, 05/04/20,

I am not loving the word “map” – I would prefer volume or weight.

User, 05/04/20,

Do we really need to contract to do this? Seems like at least the first pass could be done in-house with support from board members? And then do a contract for the areas where we have defined holes that we agree on

User, 05/04/20,

We need to know exactly what we are targeting. This item seems like the highest importance and should be tackled asap


See earlier comments about a Needs/GAP assessment and SWOT of the state or regional capacity as well as feedstock capacity so you can speak to businesses on their opportunity.


Consider renaming or clarifying these categories. The top seems to be focused on waste system policy analysis, while the bottom also seems to include policy analysis components (i.e. business incentives could include tax incentives). Perhaps: Waste and Recycling System Policy Analysis; Economic and Business Incentive Policies Analysis


Does this include siting and permitting assistance? What about connecting businesses that supply and demand a certain recycled material? Similar to comment above.


There 6 MRF in the state, not sure they would be covered under this statement as they may not be “Expanding” but instead doing a better job of pulling out contamination, separating cartons or plastic 3-7.


Is there a role for active recruitment? For example, w=once you know where the gaps are in end market and reprocessing and can identify some solutions can the RMDC recruit companies to come location in WA or the region? Look at What Chantal Fryer is doing in NC for this model.


I really think this needs to be informed by goals and results of waste studies. Opening statement said focus needs to be on mixed paper and plastics so frame this as the starting point. IN that case you may need to expand your partnerships to include people like Carton council (mixed paper), Closed loop fun for their Next Gen cups work and AF&PA for their poly lined cup recycling efforts. Who has money to support growth? Would Continuous Materials who recycles cartons be interested in facility in WA what data would they need to assess the market opportunity and what incentives? Same thing with plastics.


Does it have to be innovative. For example, the PNW lacks a PERF. This isn’t innovative technology but is needed to advance recycling tech. Do you need to set restrictions around what is allowed (i.e. mechanical recycling only or open to chemical recycling?)

User, 05/04/20,

Would put this as the 1st item in this category


Could something be added about relationship building or networking? The Center should help make connections among the business community to develop symbiotic relationships between companies and their material flows. It could also potentially assist with establishing collocated eco industrial parks or “networked” eco industrial areas.


A key aspect of business assistance for recycling is access to feedstocks. Is it appropriate for this RMDC to help with education campaigns to increase recycling and reduce contamination? Consider our discussion on the AMERIPEN RMDC taskforce—that was their first ask. Reprocessors and End Markets locating into your State will want to know their material access. How much can you collect in WA but can you also draw from neighboring states?

User, 05/04/20,

Would like to make this strategic. There could be basic info available to all, and then targeted enhanced assistance to high priority opportunities. Would like the effort to be more pro-active for our high priority items

https://ecology.wa.gov/Research-Data/Data-resources/Solid-waste-recycling-data

http://choosewashingtonstate.com/


system, including cost/benefits, to identify impacts on local and regional recycling markets. Analysis should include potential cost/benefits to consumers.

o Timeline : 2020 or 2021.

Economic analysis – Contract for a study of economic drivers for recycling, financing options, and business incentives that would be effective in Washington.

o Timeline : 2021.

Advance Technology Facilitate discussions – provide a platform for discussions about new technology to improve or

create new recycling feedstocks and end-markerts, based on strategic goals and research results. I think this needs to be informed by the goals and objectives. For now you know the focus needs to be on mixed paper and plastics.

o Timeline : 2020 and ongoing. Evaluate new technology – collect information about current technology and innovative businesses.

Identify what is ‘proven’ or ‘nonproven’ technology. Directly engage technology companies that are currently processing material into new feedstocks and products.

o Timeline : 2020 and 2021, with regular updates.

Investment analysis – evaluate investment opportunities for existing or new infrastructure to help expand and support new recycling markets, based on strategic goals and research results.

o Timeline : 2020 and 2021.

Next StepsThe Center advisory board will review and comment on this draft. Revisions will be incorporated. The updated work plan will be posted on the Board EZview website for all interested parties. Updates on plan implementation will be provided to the board.

List of footnotes Recycling Development Center Advisory Board EZview website:


Ecology solid waste and recycling data website: https://ecology.wa.gov/Research-Data/Data-resources/Solid-waste-recycling-data

Ecology, 2010. 2009 Washington Statewide Waste Characterization Study. Publication 10-07-023. https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1007023.html

Ecology, 2018. 2015-2016 Washington Statewide Waste Characterization Study. Publication 16-07-032. https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1607032.html

Recycling Development Center Advisory Board Meeting, 2020. January 9, 2020 board meeting notes. https://www.ezview.wa.gov/Portals/_1962/Documents/rdcab/010920NOTES.pdf

Northeast Recycling Council. Webpage listing completed projects. Site accessed in April 2020: https://nerc.org/projects/completed-projects/



Some of this stuff is not “new” but may be new to us. Optical sorting for mixed paper should implemented everywhere but it is technically not new.

User, 05/04/20,

This needs clarity


I think this needs to be informed by the goals and objectives. For now you know the focus needs to be on mixed paper and plastics. This is where trends come in too—once you know where trend are then you can explore what’s needed.I would also encourage you to break out and technology assessment by recycling stage (sortation, reprocessing and end maekets. There may be an opportunity where you can attract a reproceesor but in order for them to access the material they need, MRFs will need better sortation technology. So technology needs to map and consider the full value chain.

https://nerc.org/projects/completed-projects/

https://www.ezview.wa.gov/Portals/_1962/Documents/rdcab/010920NOTES.pdf








Washington State Department of Commerce. Choose Washington website. Site accessed in April 2020: http://choosewashingtonstate.com/


http://choosewashingtonstate.com/


Attachment 1 - Solid Waste DataThe law requires the Center work plan to “describe actions and recommendations for developing markets for commodities comprising a significant percentage of the waste stream and having potential for use as an industrial or commercial feedstock, with initial focus on mixed waste paper and plastics” (RCW 70.370.030 (3)(a)).

Solid waste generated and material recovery data are reported annually to Ecology, and available online for years 2000 to 20176 (2018 data not released at the time of this writing). These data are reported by several thousand facilities involved in managing solid waste, energy recovery, and recycling: landfills, material recovery facilities, recyclers, moderate risk waste facilities, compost facilities, and counties.

Data discussed in the tables and figures below focus on the recovered portion of the solid waste stream in 2017. Solid waste generated in 2017 totaled 18,633,844 tons. While more than half of that waste was landfilled, nearly 45 percent was recovered for other end uses:

Recovered solid waste totaled 8,326,844 tons (44.7% of total solid waste). Recovered refers to materials that are recycled, processed and burned for energy, land applied, or aerobically digested.

Most of that the recovered material was collected for recycling: 7,768,307 tons (41.7% of total solid waste; 3% of the recovered materials were burned for energy, land applied, or aerobically digested).

Table 2 lists the categories and types of materials collected for recycling. Note that C&D means construction and demolition debris and MRW means moderate risk waste.

NEED to Add reuse data, waste prevention data, waste characterization data

Table 2 – Materials included each categoryCategory Materials includeC&D Construction and demolition debris: ash, sand & dust, asphalt & concrete, carpet & pad,

construction & demolition debris, gypsum, land clearing debris, paint, roofing material, and wood waste.

Glass Container glass and other glass.Metal Aluminum cans, appliances/white goods, other ferrous metal, other nonferrous metal, and

steel cans.MRW Moderate risk waste: antifreeze, auto lead acid batteries, electronics, fluorescent light bulbs,

household batteries, oil filters, other batteries, other fuels, and used oil.Organics Agricultural organics, food processing waste, food scraps, food recovered by food banks

(rescued), industrial organics, meats, fats & oils, other organics, yard debris, and yard debris & food mixed.

Other Clothing & household items, mattresses, miscellaneous, photographic films, textiles, and tires.

Paper Cartons, cardboard, high grade paper, mixed paper, newspaper, and other recyclable paper.

Plastic Mixed plastics, PET, HDPE, LDPE, and other recyclable plastics.Note: PET polyethylene terephthalate; HDPE high-density polyethylene; LDPE light-density polyethylene

6 https://ecology.wa.gov/Research-Data/Data-resources/Solid-waste-recycling-data



I would guess this includes a lot of reuse (?)


This is salvage of edible food as a “non recycling” example..


Any reuse of electronics included here?


Any building salvage for reuse included here?


To my point above, how does waste prevention or reuse fit into these categories?

User, 05/04/20,

When we get to doing a fuller version of this research document, we need to include more info on waste prevention and reuse

Steward, Kara (ECY) [2], 06/19/20,

Deb Geiger comment: When discussing solid waste data in the plan, it focuses on materials that are recovered. Rightly so, since this is material immediately available for processing. I think there should also be an emphasis on materials still in the waste stream, and I only see it mentioned in passing (let me know if I missed it). There is so much more recoverable material available that is your basic cardboard, plastics, glass, etc. We would have an increase in materials available for processing if there was a mechanism to aid in capturing more of it (ie: outreach, legislation, incentives for public). I would imagine the greater quantities of specific materials we can recover, the more likely a business/manufacturer would take interest in our region.

User, 05/04/20,

While I like this section, it is incomplete (as you note below), it does not include waste characterization studies, etc. My suggestion is to remove this section from this report and use it as the starting point for a new research document.



Table 3 - Material collected for recycling in 2017

Category 2017 Tons collectedPortion of materials

collected for recyclingPortion of total solid

waste generatedC&D 3,589,221 46.20 % 19.26 %Metal 1,543,249 19.87 % 8.28 %Organics 1,315,898 16.94 % 7.06 %Paper 948,524 12.21 % 5.09 %Glass 146,065 1.88 % 0.78 %MRW 104,752 1.35 % 0.56 %Plastic 67,235 0.87% 0.36%Other 53,362 0.69% 0.29%TOTAL 7,768,307 100 % 41.7 %

The information in Figure 2 comes from Ecology data (Tables 3) of materials collected from the waste stream for recycling (compared to total solid waste generated and materials collected for recycling).

Figure 2 – Portion of materials collected for recycling (see Table 3)

Glass, metal, paper, and plastic categories, listed in Table 3 and shown on Figure 2, are separated in more detail in Table 4, listed in volume order from largest to smallest.



Id suggest adding some additional tables or information, including the characterization studies that what remains in the disposed waste stream that is not being collected for recycling. That shows a very different picture, for mixed plastics for instance (I think) and provides the basis for what scale of facilities covering what type of (in this case) plastic materials are needed or possible. It is this type of info that is being used by Ellen MacArthur Foundation and probably others to show the lost value and economic activity due to a disposal economy rather than a circular economy. Something showing the portion of each material category collected for recycling vs collected as garbage/disposal would be important to have in our work plan.


Table 4 - Glass, metal, paper and plastic collected for recycling in 2017

Category Material type Tons collectedPortion of materials

collected for recyclingMetal Other Ferrous Metal 1,336,616 17.21%Paper Cardboard 504,179 6.49%Paper Newspaper 207,277 2.67%Paper Mixed Paper 178,153 2.29%Glass Container Glass 146,065 1.88%Metal Other Nonferrous Metal 127,198 1.64%Paper High Grade Paper 58,896 0.76%Metal Appliances/White Goods 54,131 0.70%Plastic LDPE Plastics 19,073 0.25%Plastic PET Plastics 18,526 0.24%Metal Steel Cans 14,235 0.18%Plastic Other Recyclable Plastics 13,372 0.17%Plastic HDPE Plastics 12,216 0.16%Metal Aluminum Cans 11,070 0.14%Plastic Mixed Plastics 4,048 0.05%Paper Cartons 19 0.0002%

TOTAL 2,707,090 34.85%

This summary of material collected from the solid waste stream does not include the results of two waste characterization studies7. Those studies provide information about materials in the waste stream. One other data point that may be of interest is the portion of recovered materials collected from commercial versus residential users. The reported data shows material recovered from the commercial sector is 85%, where residential material recovery is 15% of the total (residential portion for general material categories: 9% metal, 15% paper, 17% glass and 21% plastic). Interestingly, the total volume of solid waste generated are more equal: residential 45% and commercial 55%.

7 https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1007023.html and https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1607032.html



May be part of our problem. Residential is much cleaner. Only 50% of Americans have access to curbside recycling, what is the number Washington?


See comment above. I think this is important to include in the work plan.

