(1)(a) Beginning July 1, 2023, and each July 1st thereafter, the department must determine which counties and any cities preparing independent solid waste management plans:
(i) Provide for businesses to be serviced by providers that collect food waste and organic material waste for delivery to solid waste facilities that provide for the organic materials management of organic material waste and food waste; and
(ii) Are serviced by solid waste facilities that provide for the organic materials management of organic material waste and food waste and have year-round capacity to process and are willing to accept increased volumes of organic materials deliveries.
(b)(i) The department must determine and designate that the restrictions of this section apply to businesses in a jurisdiction unless the department determines that the businesses in some or all portions of the city or county have:
(A) No available businesses that collect and deliver organic materials to solid waste facilities that provide for the organic materials management of organic material waste and food waste; or
(B) No available capacity at the solid waste facilities to which businesses that collect and deliver organic materials could feasibly and economically deliver organic materials from the jurisdiction.
(ii)(A) In the event that a county or city provides a written request and supporting evidence to the department determining that the criteria of (b)(i)(A) of this subsection are met, and the department confirms this determination, then the restrictions of this section apply only in those portions of the jurisdiction that have available service-providing businesses.
(B) In the event that a county or city provides a written request and supporting evidence to the department determining that the criteria of (b)(i)(B) of this subsection are met, and the department confirms this determination, then the restrictions of this section do not apply to the jurisdiction.
(c) The department must make the result of the annual determinations required under this section available on its website.
(d) The requirements of this section may be enforced by jurisdictional health departments or a jurisdiction implementing a plan under this chapter, except that:
(i) A jurisdictional health department may not charge a fee to permit holders to cover the costs of the jurisdictional health department's administration or enforcement of the requirements of this section; and
(ii) Prior to issuing a penalty under this section, a jurisdictional health department or a jurisdiction implementing a plan under this chapter must provide at least two written notices of noncompliance with the requirements of this section to the owner or operator of a business subject to the requirements of this section.
(2)(a)(i) Beginning January 1, 2024, a business that generates at least eight cubic yards of organic material waste per week must arrange for organic materials management services specifically for organic material waste;
(ii) Beginning January 1, 2025, a business that generates at least four cubic yards of organic material waste per week must arrange for organic materials management services specifically for organic material waste; and
(iii) Beginning January 1, 2026, a business that generates at least 96 gallons of organic material waste per week shall arrange for organic materials management services specifically for organic material waste, unless the department determines, by rule, that additional reductions in the landfilling of organic materials would be more appropriately and effectively achieved, at reasonable cost to regulated businesses, through the establishment of a different volumetric threshold of organic waste material than the threshold of 96 gallons of organic material waste per week.
(b) The following wastes do not count for purposes of determining waste volumes in (a) of this subsection:
(i) Wastes that are managed on-site by the generating business;
(ii) Wastes generated from the growth and harvest of food or fiber that are managed off-site by another business engaged in the growth and harvest of food or fiber;
(iii) Wastes that are managed by a business that enters into a voluntary agreement to sell or donate organic materials to another business for off-site use;
(iv) Wastes generated in exceptional volumes as a result of a natural disaster or other infrequent and unpreventable event; and
(v) Wastes generated as a result of a food safety event, such as a product recall, that is due to foreign material or adverse biological activity that requires landfill destruction rather than organic material management.
(3) A business may fulfill the requirements of this section by:
(a) Source separating organic material waste from other waste, subscribing to a service that includes organic material waste collection and organic materials management, and using such a service for organic material waste generated by the business;
(b) Managing its organic material waste on-site or self-hauling its own organic material waste for organic materials management;
(c) Qualifying for exclusion from the requirements of this section consistent with subsection (1)(b) of this section; or
(d) For a business engaged in the growth, harvest, or processing of food or fiber, entering into a voluntary agreement to sell or donate organic materials to another business for off-site use.
(4)(a) A business generating organic material waste shall arrange for any services required by this section in a manner that is consistent with state and local laws and requirements applicable to the collection, handling, or recycling of solid and organic material waste.
(b) Nothing in this section requires a business to dispose of materials in a manner that conflicts with federal or state public health or safety requirements. Nothing in this section requires businesses to dispose of wastes generated in exceptional volumes as a result of a natural disaster or other infrequent and unpreventable event through the options established in subsection (3) of this section. Nothing in this section prohibits a business from disposing of nonfood organic materials that are not commingled with food waste by using the services of an organic materials management facility that does not accept food waste.
(5) When arranging for gardening or landscaping services, the contract or work agreement between a business subject to this section and a gardening or landscaping service must require that the organic material waste generated by those services be managed in compliance with this chapter.
(6)(a) This section does not limit the authority of a local governmental agency to adopt, implement, or enforce a local organic material waste recycling requirement, or a condition imposed upon a self-hauler, that is more stringent or comprehensive than the requirements of this chapter.
(b) This section does not modify, limit, or abrogate in any manner any of the following:
(i) A franchise granted or extended by a city, county, city and county, or other local governmental agency;
(ii) A contract, license, certificate, or permit to collect solid waste previously granted or extended by a city, county, city and county, or other local governmental agency;
(iii) The right of a business to sell or donate its organic materials; and
(iv) A certificate of convenience and necessity issued to a solid waste collection company under chapter 81.77 RCW.
(c) Nothing in this section modifies, limits, or abrogates the authority of a local jurisdiction with respect to land use, zoning, or facility siting decisions by or within that local jurisdiction.
(d) Nothing in this section changes or limits the authority of the Washington utilities and transportation commission to regulate collection of solid waste, including curbside collection of residential recyclable materials, nor does this section change or limit the authority of a city or town to provide the service itself or by contract under RCW 81.77.020 .
(7)(a) The department must create and publish on its website:
(i) The methodology used to determine the businesses that are required to manage organic materials in a manner consistent with the requirements of this section; and
(ii) A list of businesses that are likely to be required to manage organic materials in a manner consistent with the requirements of this section. This list is for purposes of outreach assistance but need not represent a complete or determinative list of businesses required to comply with the requirements of this section.
(b) The department may hire an independent third party to support the implementation of the responsibilities described in (a) of this subsection.
(c) The list created and published under (a) of this subsection must be designed in a manner that facilitates:
(i) Education and outreach by solid waste collection companies, jurisdictional health departments, and local governments; and
(ii) Enforcement by jurisdictional health departments and jurisdictions implementing a plan under this chapter.
(d)(i) In support of the creation of this list, the department may require a solid waste collection company to furnish information that will assist the department in determining the applicability of the requirements of this section to businesses that are currently receiving collection services for organic materials management from the solid waste collection company.
(ii) A solid waste collection company that submits information or records to the department under this section may request that the information or records be made available only for the confidential use of the department, the director, or the appropriate division of the department. The director shall give consideration to the request and if this action is not detrimental to the public interest and is otherwise within accord with the policies and purposes of chapter 43.21A RCW, the director must grant the request for the information to remain confidential as authorized in RCW 43.21A.160 .
(8)(a) Prior to imposing a civil penalty under (b) of this subsection when a business has been determined to be in violation of the requirements of this section, a jurisdictional health department or jurisdiction implementing a plan under this chapter must issue at least:
(i) One notification letter to a business informing them of the requirements of this chapter by certified mail; and
(ii) One notice of violation by certified mail subsequent to the notification letter in (a)(i) of this subsection.
(b) After being issued at least the notification letter and at least one notice of violation without the imposition of a penalty under (a) of this subsection, beginning July 1, 2026, a business in violation of the requirements of this section is subject to a minimum civil penalty, imposed by a jurisdiction implementing a plan under this chapter or a jurisdictional health department, in an amount of:
(i) $500 for each day of violation for a first violation by a business that results in a penalty under this section;
(ii) $750 for each day of violation for a second violation by a business that results in a penalty under this section;
(iii) $1,000 for each day of violation for a third or subsequent violation by a business that results in a penalty under this section.
(c) Except as provided in (d) of this subsection, a jurisdictional health department or jurisdiction enforcing the requirements of this section may adopt civil penalties that exceed the minimum penalties specified in (b) of this subsection.
(d) A small business, as defined in RCW 19.85.020 , may not be assessed more than $10,000 in penalties under this section in a single calendar year.
(e) The department may not impose a penalty on a solid waste collection company related to their obligation to disclose information to the department under subsection (7)(d) of this section.
(f) A penalty imposed under this section may be appealed to the pollution control hearings board created in chapter 43.21B RCW.
(9) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(a)(i) "Business" means a commercial or public entity including, but not limited to, a firm, partnership, proprietorship, joint stock company, corporation, or association that is organized as a for-profit or nonprofit entity.
(ii) "Business" does not include a multifamily residential entity.
(b) "Food waste" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 70A.205.715 .
Findings — Intent — 2025 c 314: See note following RCW 70A.207.050 .
Findings — Intent — 2024 c 341: See note following RCW 70A.207.040 .
Findings — Intent — Scope of authority of chapter 180, Laws of 2022 — 2022 c 180: See notes following RCW 70A.205.007 .