An update for Washington readers: The Reducing Plastic Pollution and Improving Recycling Bill (SB 5022) gets its hearing in the Washington Senate on Tuesday, Jan. 26. It’s a step toward deplasticizing our lives and for that, we ought to be grateful. It doesn’t seem like it should be that heavy a lift, given its fairly modest goals. (The fact that it is opposed at all is a shame, testament to something cellular that has to change before real progress can happen. After all that has been lost already, there are are still those who would have us lose what remains, and profit from the exchange.)

The bill requires that plastic beverage containers and bottles contain some postconsumer recycled plastic, from a minimum of 15% by weight in 2023 to 50% by 2031. It also bans expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) coolers, food service products, and packing peanuts as of June 1, 2023 and requires that restaurants and food service businesses provide straws, utensils, condiment packages and beverage cup lids only on request or in self-serve bins.

Whether you think that this is ground-breaking legislation or not, it matters whether it succeeds or fails. Every 1000-mile journey is made up of individual steps and it is critical that we keep moving. If you wouldn’t mind, please take a minute to add your voice to those standing up for this legislation by signing in to the legislative website, thusly:

• Click on the following link before 9:30am on Tuesday, January 26 https://app.leg.wa.gov/CSIRemote/Senate
• Click on the committee name (Environment, Energy & Technology)
• Select the session (9/26 at 10:30am) and the bill (SB 5022)
• Click on “I would like my position noted for the legislative record”,
• Then click “PRO” to say that you are in favor and add your information.
• Submit.
  That’s it. It only takes a minute and it matters. Whether you take that minute to do it or not, it matters.