2024 legislative review
HB 2068 environmental impacts of fashion
Failed / AWB opposed sponsor : Rep . Sharlett Mena , D-Tacoma
This bill would have instituted an EPR program for apparel . The bill was focused on the so-called fast fashion industry , particularly apparel coming in from online Chinese retailers which degrades very quickly after being worn once or twice . It would create a reporting requirement for apparel sold in the state . This reporting requirement was similar to some of the voluntary environmental stewardship reporting that some outdoor companies post online , but required more detailed reporting and the implementation of targeted reductions .
AWB was opposed to the bill because , similar to the Scope 3 emissions reporting bill , it requires tracking information that retailers in Washington might not have complete control over . This could open them up to litigation and other penalties . Additionally , the regulatory reporting framework that bill proposed went much further than a lot of the current voluntary reporting standards being followed by some of the companies that actually supported the bill , making them actually non-compliant with the bill they were proposing . Because of the penalty structure that was created around this bill , AWB opposed the proposal .
HB 2301 organic waste management
Passed / AWB Supported sponsor : Rep . Beth Doglio , D-Olympia
This was a large organics and food waste bill that followed up on work from the past few sessions to reduce food waste in landfills . AWB started out opposed , but thanks to the efforts by the prime sponsors working to address the concerns of AWB membership , AWB was able to get to support on the final version of this bill . The bill follows up on the work of HB 1789 , passed in 2022 , which required new standards for handling organic material waste . This bill requires the collection of organic , yard and food waste from businesses based on how much waste they ’ re generating , starting in 2027 , and then expands to include multifamily residents at a later date , with full implementation by 2030 .
Sen . Joe Nguyen , D-White Center , talks with hill climbers during AWB ’ s Legislative Day & Hill Climb . Nguyen chairs the Senate Environment , Energy & Technology Committee , is vice chair , operating , of the Senate Ways & Means Committee , and is a member of the Human Services Committee .
22 association of washington business