Washington is cleaning up its act with new laws that make food labels more clear on packaging to cut down on plastic waste.
NBC noted that the new Organics Management Law is meant to make it easier for people to find packaging that can be composted. This is a big step forward for the state’s plans to make things more sustainable and cut down on trash that ends up in landfills.
The law changes what can be called “compostable.” The goal is to keep organic garbage out of landfills and get nutrients and energy back. One of the hardest things for the Washington Department of Ecology is getting small pieces of plastic out of compost. People will be able to sort their trash more easily with the new stickers, which will also help keep things from getting dirty.
The first Organics Management Law, which was passed in 2022, set the guidelines for compostable labeling. But it was clear that labels and customers’ confusion were making pollution worse, which made composting harder and cost more.
These problems should be fixed by the new laws, which include labels that are clearer and more true. Making it easier for people to find and properly throw away recyclable packaging could help organic management facilities save money and run more smoothly.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Department of Ecology will also look into stickers for fruits and veggies that aren’t made of plastic. In 2025, they will tell the State Legislature what they found. This attempt shows that the state wants to find new ways to use less plastic.
This change in Washington’s laws is part of a larger trend of environmental policies that aim to cut down on waste and encourage long-term living. Similar programs, like the Inflation Reduction Act, which offers tax breaks and credits for using clean energy and making house improvements, have also been very important in moving us toward a greener future.
Washington state is showing how policies can make it easier for everyone to live in a way that is good for the environment by putting in place new labeling rules.
