Public Comment Form

Commenting open: July 15, 2026 12:00AM PT - August 10, 2026 11:59PM PT.

DRAFT Report: Recycling Refund Community Engagement Study

Please note that this comment form is for the purpose of submitting a comment to the Washington State Department of Ecology.


Department of Ecology is soliciting comments on the DRAFT Recycling Refund Community Engagement Study Report, required by chapter 70A.208 RCW.

This report summarizes the community engagement efforts conducted around Washington State to understand potential impacts of a recycling refund program. This is the second recycling refund report, the first recycling refund report modeled convenient access to bottle redemption services in three areas, Spokane, Yakima, and King County.


A recycling refund program, also called a deposit-return system or “bottle bill," places a refundable deposit on beverage containers at the point of sale. Consumers pay the deposit upfront and receive it back when they return the empty container for recycling. No decisions have been made about whether a recycling refunds program will be implemented.


The DRAFT Recycling Refund Community Engagement Study Report is now available for public review and comment, through August 10, 2026. The final report is due to the Washington State Legislature by January 1, 2027.



Additional opportunity to learn more:


For more information, please visit Ecology's Recycling Reform Act webpage.



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Comments are due by 11:59 PM (PST) on August 10, 2026
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