Washington State Department of Ecology

Major habitat restoration project completed on Lower Peshastin Creek

The Lower Peshastin Creek Restoration Project cleaned up contamination, reconnected the creek to its historical channel, and ...
Washington State Department of Ecology

Cleaning up Northport waterfront

Ecology cleaned up smelting contamination on the Columbia River public waterfront in Northport using state funding to remove ...
Washington State Department of Ecology

Taking steps to tackle nutrient pollution and harmful algal blooms

We are starting two rulemakings to update Washington’s water quality standards to help address freshwater nutrient pollution and the harmful, toxic algal blooms that can result from it.
Washington State Department of Ecology

6PPD State of the Science

This event is scheduled for two days: Dec. 9 and Dec. 10, 2025 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. To see the time and schedule of individual speakers, here is a detailed daily agenda. The forum will follow this ...
agr.wa.gov

WAC 173-201A Harmful algal blooms

Ecology is considering adding new freshwater recreational criteria to Chapter 173-201A WAC, Water quality standards in surface waters of the State of Washington. The criteria are for toxins produced ...
agr.wa.gov

Bring your own bag – avoid a fee increase on store-bought bags

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, shoppers will pay 12 cents, up from 8 cents, for each reusable plastic bag purchased from Washington retailers and restaurants Beginning January 1, shoppers will see a 4-cent ...
agr.wa.gov

Air Quality

Clean air is vital for everyone. We manage smoke, vehicle pollution, industrial emissions, and other pollutants so communities have healthy air to breathe. We do this through permits, regulations, and ...
agr.wa.gov

Rulemaking at Ecology

This is the list of rules we are authorized to implement. They are sorted by topic. Each rule links to official rule language on the Washington State Legislature's Code Reviser's web site. The Office ...
agr.wa.gov

Recycling Reform Act

Producers of residential packaging and paper products will be responsible for the end-of-life management of their products. Using funds provided by producers, the PRO will invest in recycling system ...
agr.wa.gov

Litter pickup

In 2024, litter-pickup programs we funded collected more than 5.2 million pounds (2,632 tons) of litter and cleaned more than 18,000 miles of road, statewide. See how much litter crews picked up in ...
agr.wa.gov

Recycled content minimums

Washington state law requires producers of certain plastic products such as beverage containers, trash bags, and household and personal care product containers to meet post-consumer recycled content ...