Local
Washington Fines 38 Companies $246,548 for Falling Short on Recycled Plastic Mandates
The Washington Department of Ecology has penalized 38 companies, including Kroger and Ocean Spray, for failing to meet the state's recycled-content requirements, with fines totaling $246,548. The penalties, which range from $131 to $43,381, are part of a 2021 law aimed at reducing single-use plastics and will fund local recycling grants.
SEATTLE â Washington state regulators have fined 38 companies a combined $246,548 for failing to meet recycled-material standards in single-use plastic products, the Department of Ecology announced. The penalties, issued this year, stem from a 2021 state law designed to curb single-use plastics by requiring companies to incorporate a minimum amount of recycled content into beverage containers, trash bags, household cleaning containers, and personal care product packaging.
The fines, which range from $131 to $43,381 per company, are calculated based on each company's sales volume in Washington and its use of recycled plastics. Several major brands were cited for particularly low compliance: Arizona Beverages USA, Harvest Hill Beverage Company, HP Hood LLC, and Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. all achieved 0% recycled content, while The Kroger Co. reached just 0.97%.
"This year, 38 companies were not in compliance," the Department of Ecology said in its announcement, noting that the penalties are intended to hold producers accountable for the state's recycling goals.
The fines come as Washington grapples with a growing plastic waste stream. According to the Department of Ecology, more than 220 million pounds of plastic trash bags, beverage containers, and household cleaning and personal care product containers were sold in the state in 2025. About 70% of that material met the recycled plastic requirements, leaving a significant gap.
Companies fined have fewer than 30 days to pay or appeal the penalties. The money collected goes into the Recycling Enhancement Account, which the Department of Ecology uses to issue grants to local governments for solid waste programs and financial assistance.
This year's penalties are lower in total than last year's, when 23 companies were fined $277,000, but the number of non-compliant companies rose. The shift suggests broader participation in the reporting system, even as some producers continue to lag on recycled content.
Environmental advocates say the fines are a necessary enforcement tool but argue that more must be done to reduce plastic production at the source. The 2021 law, passed as Senate Bill 5022, set a framework for increasing recycled content over time, with thresholds rising in future years. For now, the penalties serve as a reminder that the state is watchingâand that the cost of non-compliance will be borne by producers, not the public.
Residents can find the full list of fined companies on the Department of Ecology's website.