Thirty-eight plastic producers fined a combined $246,548 for failing to use enough recycled content

The Washington Department of Ecology fined 38 plastic producers a combined $246,548 for not complying with a 2021 state law requiring them to use a minimum amount of recycled material in single-use beverage containers, plastic trash bags, and plastic household cleaning and personal care product containers.

The penalties were based on the amount of post-consumer recycled content (PCRC) plastic each company was required to include in products sold in Washington in 2025. Ecology reviews annual reports submitted by the covered product producers to identify those that are not meeting the minimum recycled content requirements.

Fines for the 38 companies ranged from $131 to $43,381 per company, based on their sales in Washington and use of recycled plastics. Producers may receive penalty reductions if they enter into an agreement with Ecology. The agreement must include why the producer was unable to meet the PCRC requirements and a timeline for the producer to come into compliance.

Overview of PCRC Requirements

Starting in 2022, companies were required to include 10% PCRC in trash bags and 15% PCRC in some plastic beverage containers. In 2025, the minimum PCRC requirements for trash bags increased to 15%, and a new product category - household cleaning and personal care products - was required to include 15% PCRC in plastic containers.

The scope of covered materials will expand in the coming years to include additional beverage container types, such as wine and dairy containers. Minimum PCRC requirements will also increase for trash bags, other beverage containers, and household cleaning and personal care product containers. By 2036, Washington's law will require at least 50% recycled content in plastic containers for beverages and household cleaning and personal care products.

Plastic Introduced into Washington

According to 2026 registration data from plastic manufacturers, more than 220 million pounds of plastic trash bags, beverage containers, and household cleaning and personal care product containers were sold in Washington in 2025. Most producers of products in these categories - about 70% - met the 2025 minimum PCRC requirements.

Companies that failed to meet recycled content standards

Under the law, plastic packaging producers are required to annually report the weight of new and recycled plastic sold in Washington. Each producer that fell short of the recycled content requirements was issued a penalty. The penalty is based on how much the producer has missed the mark in meeting PCRC requirements.

In 2025, Ecology issued its second year of penalties totaling more than $277,000 to 23 companies that failed to comply with this law. This year, the total amount of penalties decreased to around $247,000 as compliance increased. Producers with penalties exceeding $10,000 for 2026 are listed in the table below.

Producer Percent of recycled content achieved Penalty
Arizona Beverages USA 0% $13,904.70
Harvest Hill Beverage Company 0% $32,643.00
HP Hood LLC 0% $10,569.81
KIK International LLC 4.31% $16,399.90
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. 0% $43,381.41
The Kroger Co. 0.97% $11,665.47
Tree Top, Inc. 0% $20,160.70
Uline Inc. 0.19% $23,678.20

What's next?

Companies must pay their fines within 30 days of receiving the penalty or appeal them to Washington's Pollution Control Hearings Board.

Companies that produce plastic containers are encouraged to review the public producer list, register if necessary, and contact Ecology for more information.