The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
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Terms Used In Washington Code 70A.245.010

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • person: may be construed to include the United States, this state, or any state or territory, or any public or private corporation or limited liability company, as well as an individual. See Washington Code 1.16.080
(1) “Beverage” means beverages identified in (a) through (f) of this subsection, intended for human or animal consumption, and in a quantity more than or equal to two fluid ounces and less than or equal to one gallon:
(a) Water and flavored water;
(b) Beer or other malt beverages;
(c) Wine;
(d) Distilled spirits;
(e) Mineral water, soda water, and similar carbonated soft drinks; and
(f) Any beverage other than those specified in (a) through (e) of this subsection, except infant formula as defined in 21 U.S.C. § 321(z), medical food as defined in 21 U.S.C. § 360ee(b)(3), or fortified oral nutritional supplements used for persons who require supplemental or sole source nutritional needs due to special dietary needs directly related to cancer, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, or other medical conditions as determined by the department.
(2) “Beverage manufacturing industry” means an association that represents beverage producers.
(3) “Condiment packaging” means packaging used to deliver single-serving condiments to customers. Condiment packaging includes, but is not limited to, single-serving packaging for ketchup, mustard, relish, mayonnaise, hot sauce, coffee creamer, salad dressing, jelly, jam, and soy sauce.
(4)(a) “Covered product” means an item in one of the following categories subject to minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements:
(i) Plastic trash bags;
(ii) Household cleaning and personal care products that use plastic household cleaning and personal care product containers; and
(iii) Beverages that use plastic beverage containers.
(b) “Covered product” does not include any type of container or bag for which the state is preempted from regulating content of the container material or bag material under federal law.
(5) “Dairy milk” means a beverage that designates milk as the predominant (first) ingredient in the ingredient list on the container’s label.
(6) “Department” means the department of ecology.
(7) “Expanded polystyrene” means blown polystyrene and expanded and extruded foams that are thermoplastic petrochemical materials utilizing a styrene monomer and processed by any number of techniques including, but not limited to, fusion of polymer spheres (expandable bead polystyrene), injection molding, foam molding, and extrusion-blow molding (extruded foam polystyrene).
(8) “Food service business” means a business selling or providing food for consumption on or off the premises, and includes full-service restaurants, fast food restaurants, cafes, delicatessens, coffee shops, grocery stores, vending trucks or carts, home delivery services, delivery services provided through an online application, and business or institutional cafeterias.
(9) “Food service product” means a product intended for one-time use and used for food or drink offered for sale or use. Food service products include, but are not limited to, containers, plates, bowls, cups, lids, beverage containers, meat trays, deli rounds, utensils, sachets, straws, condiment packaging, clamshells and other hinged or lidded containers, wrap, and portion cups.
(10) “Household cleaning and personal care product” means any of the following:
(a) Laundry detergents, softeners, and stain removers;
(b) Household cleaning products;
(c) Liquid soap;
(d) Shampoo, conditioner, styling sprays and gels, and other hair care products; or
(e) Lotion, moisturizer, facial toner, and other skin care products.
(11) “Household cleaning and personal care product manufacturing industry” means an association that represents companies that manufacture household cleaning and personal care products.
(12) “Licensee” means a manufacturer or entity who licenses a brand and manufactures a covered product under that brand.
(13) “Oral nutritional supplement” means a manufactured liquid, powder capable of being reconstituted, or solid product that contains a combination of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals intended to supplement a portion of a patient’s nutrition intake.
(14) “Plastic beverage container” means a bottle or other rigid container that is capable of maintaining its shape when empty, comprised solely of one or multiple plastic resins designed to contain a beverage. Plastic beverage container does not include:
(a) Refillable beverage containers, such as containers that are sufficiently durable for multiple rotations of their original or similar purpose and are intended to function in a system of reuse;
(b) Rigid plastic containers or plastic bottles that are or are used for medical devices, medical products that are required to be sterile, nonprescription and prescription drugs, or dietary supplements as defined in RCW 82.08.0293;
(c) Bladders or pouches that contain wine; or
(d) Liners, caps, corks, closures, labels, and other items added externally or internally but otherwise separate from the structure of the bottle or container.
(15)(a) “Plastic household cleaning and personal care product container” means a bottle, jug, or other rigid container with a neck or mouth narrower than the base, and:
(i) A minimum capacity of eight fluid ounces or its equivalent volume;
(ii) A maximum capacity of five fluid gallons or its equivalent volume;
(iii) That is capable of maintaining its shape when empty;
(iv) Comprised solely of one or multiple plastic resins; and
(v) Containing a household cleaning or personal care product.
(b) “Plastic household cleaning and personal care product container” does not include:
(i) Refillable household cleaning and personal care product containers, such as containers that are sufficiently durable for multiple rotations of their original or similar purpose and are intended to function in a system of reuse; and
(ii) Rigid plastic containers or plastic bottles that are medical devices, medical products that are required to be sterile, and nonprescription and prescription drugs, dietary supplements as defined in RCW 82.08.0293, and packaging used for those products.
(16) “Plastic trash bag” means a bag that is made of noncompostable plastic, is at least 0.70 mils thick, and is designed and manufactured for use as a container to hold, store, or transport materials to be discarded or recycled, and includes, but is not limited to, a garbage bag, recycling bag, lawn or leaf bag, can liner bag, kitchen bag, or compactor bag. “Plastic trash bag” does not include any compostable bags meeting the requirements of chapter 70A.455 RCW.
(17) “Plastic trash bag manufacturing industry” means an association that represents companies that manufacture plastic trash bags.
(18) “Postconsumer recycled content” means the content of a covered product made of recycled materials derived specifically from recycled material generated by households or by commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities in their role as end users of a product that can no longer be used for its intended purpose. “Postconsumer recycled content” includes returns of material from the distribution chain.
(19)(a) “Producer” means the following person responsible for compliance with minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements under this chapter for a covered product sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into this state:
(i) If the covered product is sold under the manufacturer’s own brand or lacks identification of a brand, the producer is the person who manufactures the covered product;
(ii) If the covered product is manufactured by a person other than the brand owner, the producer is the person who is the licensee of a brand or trademark under which a covered product is sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into this state, whether or not the trademark is registered in this state, unless the manufacturer or brand owner of the covered product has agreed to accept responsibility under this chapter; or
(iii) If there is no person described in (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection over whom the state can constitutionally exercise jurisdiction, the producer is the person who imports or distributes the covered product in or into the state.
(b) “Producer” does not include:
(i) Government agencies, municipalities, or other political subdivisions of the state;
(ii) Registered 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations; or
(iii) De minimis producers that annually sell, offer for sale, distribute, or import in or into the country for sale in Washington:
(A) Less than one ton of a single category of plastic beverage containers, plastic household cleaning and personal care containers, or plastic trash bags each year; or
(B) A single category of a covered product that in aggregate generates less than $1,000,000 each year in revenue.
(20)(a) “Retail establishment” means any person, corporation, partnership, business, facility, vendor, organization, or individual that sells or provides merchandise, goods, or materials directly to a customer.
(b) “Retail establishment” includes, but is not limited to, food service businesses, grocery stores, department stores, hardware stores, home delivery services, pharmacies, liquor stores, restaurants, catering trucks, convenience stores, or other retail stores or vendors, including temporary stores or vendors at farmers markets, street fairs, and festivals.
(21)(a) “Utensil” means a product designed to be used by a consumer to facilitate the consumption of food or beverages, including knives, forks, spoons, cocktail picks, chopsticks, splash sticks, and stirrers.
(b) “Utensil” does not include plates, bowls, cups, and other products used to contain food or beverages.

NOTES:

Finding—Intent—2021 c 313: “(1) The legislature finds that minimum recycled content requirements for plastic beverage containers, trash bags, and household cleaning and personal care product containers, bans on problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging, and standards for customer opt-in for food service packaging and accessories are among actions needed to improve the state’s recycling system as well as reduce litter.
(2) By implementing a minimum recycled content requirement for plastic beverage containers, trash bags, and household cleaning and personal care product containers; prohibiting the sale and distribution of certain expanded polystyrene products; and establishing optional serviceware requirements as provided for in this chapter; the legislature intends to take another step towards ensuring plastic packaging and other packaging materials are reduced, recycled, and reused.” [ 2021 c 313 § 1.]
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