Bill > HB1236

This bill increases penalties for littering and establishes a comprehensive task force to address littering in Washington State. The legislation modifies existing law by changing the civil infraction classification for littering from a Class 3 to a Class 2 infraction and introduces graduated penalties based on the volume of litter: a civil infraction for less than one cubic foot, a misdemeanor for between one cubic foot and 10 cubic yards, and a gross misdemeanor for more than 10 cubic yards. The bill also mandates additional financial penalties, requiring offenders to pay cleanup restitution payments that are two to four times the actual cleanup costs, depending on the severity of the infraction. Furthermore, the bill creates a new "littering solutions task force" composed of representatives from various state agencies and industry associations, tasked with developing policy recommendations to reduce littering. This task force will analyze the current litter situation, explore strategies to reduce litter at specific public sites, identify the most commonly littered items, and develop methods to decrease litter cleanup costs. The Department of Ecology is required to submit a status update in January 2026 and a final report with recommendations by November 2026, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that the amount of litter collected annually in Washington equals or exceeds the amount deposited.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1236&Year=2025&Initiative=false