Resolution 1030 – Support Compost, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Legislation in Washington State
WHEREAS the fossil fuel industry is ramping up plastics production to backfill losses in use of fossil fuels for energy and transportation with little to no effort to make recyclable packaging (1), many consumer products come in packaging that is difficult or not eligible to recycle with less than 5% of plastic being recycled nationally (2,3); and
WHEREAS electronic products can be manufactured and marketed in such a way that they are easier to repair by owners or local independent repair shops thus increasing their useful lifespan, saving consumer dollars, and reducing negative environmental impacts; and
WHEREAS composting is an effective way to reduce landfill volume and methane gas generation while improving climate impacts by enriching soils with living ecosystems of micro-organisms that capture and store excess carbon, taking it out of the atmosphere and sequestering it where it can be used to enhance farm and garden productivity, the implementation of uniform composting regulations throughout the state would benefit the environment and food production; and
WHEREAS Zero Waste Washington (6) is leading an effort to pass legislation in Washington State to achieve greater reduction, reuse, and recycling of consumer products and organic materials, 2.?
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Washington State Democratic Central Committee (WSDCC) urges legislators to adopt legislation in 2024 and beyond that results in: reducing non-biodegradable waste products such as plastics, increased composting of organic materials, requiring manufacturers be responsible for recyclable packaging, requiring recycling and reuse of EV batteries, adopting programs that facilitate recycling locations and processes, and calling for the manufacture of products that consumers can have repaired;
THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this resolution shall be forwarded to the Washington State Governor, all Washington State House and Senate Democrats; Chairs of the House Environment and Energy and Senate Environment Energy and Technology Committees.
References:
1. CNBC, Feb 1, 2022, How the fossil fuel industry is pushing plastics on the world, by Katie Bringham https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/29/how-the-fossil-fuel-industry-is-pushing-plastics-on-the-world-.html
2. Greenpeace – NPR October 24, 2022, by Laura Sullivan – Recycling plastic is practically impossible — and the problem is getting worse: https://www.npr.org/2022/10/24/1131131088/recycling-plastic-is-practically-impossible-and-the-problem-is-getting-worse & Greenpeace 2022 full report update: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GPUS_FinalReport_2022.pdf
3. World Economic Forum, June 22, 2022. Top 25 recycling facts and statistics for 2022.https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/06/recycling-global-statistics-facts-plastic-paper/
4. CBS News, March 6, 2018 – The toll of the cobalt mining industry on health and the environment: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-toll-of-the-cobalt-mining-industry-congo/.
5. The Guardian, Dec 18, 2019, Jonathan Watts – How the race for cobalt risks turning it from miracle metal to deadly chemical. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-toll-of-the-cobalt-mining-industry-congo/
6. Zero Waste Washington – and related 2023 WA State Legislative bills, https://zerowastewashington.org/legislative-work/