Department of Ecology
Committees, Boards, and Workgroups

Sign up for the Recycling Development Center email list.  Visit NextCycle Washington's website: Supporting businesses, community-based organizations and individuals working to expand the circular economy in Washington State.   Check out the results of the NextCycle accelerator pitch competition. NextCycle Washington seed grant recipients are hard at work - here is a summary of the recipients. Sign up to participate or get involved with NextCycle Washington. Most recent information: Reach out to the Recycling Development Center Team by email. Visit Commerce's Choose Washington State website for business assistance tools and information. Advisory board meeting materials are in the Documents list (bottom of this webpage).

Visit other pages: Contamination Reduction Resources Plastic Packaging Study Solid Waste Advisory Committee Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program at Commerce

Quick Links to Center reports and related documents

• Work Plan (June 2022)
• Recyclable Material Series Reports
• Plastic (list of companies - May 2022) 
• Paper (June 2021)
• Glass (December 2021)

Recycling Development Center

The Recycling Development Center (Center) is a program at the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) created by a 2019 law (Chapter 70A.240 Revised Code of Washington). The Center was formed to provide or facilitate marketing, policy analysis, research, and development to strengthen recycling markets and processing in Washington. 

The Center's work is an effort between Ecology, the Washington State Department of Commerce, and the Recycling Development Center advisory board. The advisory board represents public agencies, private industry, universities and nonprofits.

The Center's main goal is to improve recycling markets. That work focuses on conversion or remanufacturing of waste, like mixed waste paper and plastics, into new products. 

Duties:

• Develop an annual workplan addressing recyclable markets. 
• Evaluate, analyze and make recommendations on state policies that affect recycling markets.
• Work with stakeholders involved in the recycling market and recyclable materials.
• Study developments in recycling markets.
• Obtain and communicate important findings concerning recycling markets.
• Provide grants or contracts to further develop recycling markets.
• Provide business or marketing assistance to public and private sector stakeholders.
• Represent the state in regional and national market development issues.
• Work to create a regional recycling development council.
• Report the Center's progress to the legislature in even-numbered years

The Advisory Board

The advisory board provides guidance for the Center's work. They will evaluate and make recommendations on state policies affecting markets for recycled materials. Read the board approved Goals and Metrics and Charter.

Members:

Board Meetings

2023-2024 board meetings:

• October 11, 2023 9 am to 12 pm PST
• January 10, 2024 9 am to 12 pm PST
• April 10, 2024 9 am to 12 pm PST
• July 10, 2024 9 am to 12 pm PST
• October 9, 2024 9 am to 12 pm PST

Remote attendance will be available at all Advisory Board meetings. More information will be posted in advance of each meeting. Announcements about meeting information will be provided by email.  

Meeting materials for prior board meetings are posted in the list of Documents below.

Resources 

• Recycling Development Center report – prepared by the UW Evans School of Public Policy and Governance (May 2019).
• Summary of US market development efforts (prepared for the October 2020 board meeting).
• Advisory board roster with contact information.

For more information contact the Recycling Development Center Team

Para más información o para solicitar un intérprete, favor de comunicarse con Tina Schaefer al 360-819-6659.

  若需更多相關訊息或需翻譯員,請聯絡 Tina Schaefer, 電話: 360-819-6659.

Sign up for our email list to stay informed.

ADA Accessibility:

The Department of Ecology is committed to providing people with disabilities access to information and services by meeting or exceeding the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Washington State Policy #188. For Washington Relay Service or TTY call 711 or 877-833-6341. Visit Ecology’s website for more information.