Washing machine microplastic

AN ACT Relating to reducing microplastic pollution from washing 1
machines; reenacting and amending RCW 43.21B.110 and 43.21B.300; 2
adding a new chapter to Title 70A RCW; and prescribing penalties.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that:5
(a) Microplastics, often small bits of synthetic fibers from 6
clothing, are found so commonly in drinking water that studies have 7
estimated that the average American consumes one credit card's worth 8
of plastic every week. Microplastics have already been linked to harm 9
to reproductive, liver, digestive, and respiratory health, in 10
addition to harm to the marine environment; 11
(b) Washing synthetic garments has been found to be the single 12
largest source of microfiber and microplastic pollution in marine 13
waters; 14
(c) A single load of laundry can release up to 700,000 15
microplastic fibers into wastewater, many of which pass through 16
treatment plants and end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans. These 17
fibers can eventually make their way into drinking water sources, 18
affecting both tap and bottled water supplies; 19
(d) Studies have detected microplastics in 95 percent of United 20
States tap water samples, indicating widespread contamination;21
H-2659.1
HOUSE BILL 2212
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Pollet, Berry, Ryu, Doglio, Parshley, Ramel,
Stearns, Mena, Reed, Callan, Scott, Cortes, Zahn, Wylie, Taylor,
Duerr, Gregerson, Thai, Farivar, Macri, Fosse, and Donaghy
Prefiled 12/30/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Environment & Energy.
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(e) Studies have documented that adding microplastic filters to 1
washing machines or their discharge lines effectively reduces 2
microplastic pollution; and 3
(f) Filters are available commercially at relatively low cost. 4
Costs will reduce further as other nations and states require new 5
washing machines to include microfiber filters. 6
(2) It is the intent of the legislature to begin reducing 7
microplastic pollution in Washington's waters in order to protect 8
public health and environment starting with industrial and commercial 9
laundry facilities, which contribute a large portion of the 10
discharges. Adding filters to commercial or industrial laundry 11
discharge lines or newly installed machines is a relatively low cost 12
and easily implemented step. As the incremental cost of adding 13
filters to new consumer machines or new residential consumer 14
installations reduces, which may be from adoption of similar 15
standards in large consumer markets, the legislature intends for the 16
department to adopt requirements for filters. 17
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The definitions in this section apply 18
throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires 19
otherwise.20
(1) "Commercial washing machine" means a washing machine that is 21
designed for use in applications in which the occupants of more than 22
one household will be using the washing machine, such as those 23
located in multifamily housing common areas and in businesses that 24
charge for the use of the washing machine. 25
(2) "Department" means the department of ecology.26
(3) "Industrial washing machine" means a washing machine designed 27
for use by a business to launder clothes or other textiles that are:28
(a) Used by the business; or 29
(b) Used by another business. 30
(4) "Microfiber" means a synthetic or natural textile fiber that 31
is less than five millimeters in length. 32
(5) "Microfiber filtration system" means a filtration system 33
that: 34
(a) Is active across all washing cycles of a washing machine;35
(b) Has a mesh size of 100 micrometers or less;36
(c) Is certified by an independent third party as being capable 37
of removing at least 87 percent of microfibers; and38
(d) Is either: 39
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(i) Built into a newly manufactured washing machine; or1
(ii) An in-line filtration system that is packaged with and 2
capable of being installed with a new washing machine.3
(6) "Residential washing machine" means a consumer product 4
designed to clean clothes and other household items, utilizing a 5
water solution of any combination of soap, detergent, and mechanical 6
agitation or other movement. 7
(7) "Washing machine" means a machine designed and used for 8
washing any combination of clothes, linens, or other textiles.9
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) A person may not sell or offer for 10
sale a new commercial washing machine or industrial washing machine 11
manufactured on or after July 1, 2028, unless the washing machine:12
(a) Contains or is equipped with a microfiber filtration system; 13
and 14
(b) Bears a conspicuous label that is visible to the operator or 15
consumer, in the form of a sticker or other label type, that includes 16
the following statement: "Notice: This washing machine contains a 17
filter to capture microfibers. Check filter regularly and dispose of 18
captured lint in a waste bin." 19
(2)(a) After July 1, 2030, the department may adopt a rule 20
requiring new residential washing machines to be capable of filtering 21
microfibers if the department determines that: 22
(i)(A) At least one other state representing a meaningful 23
percentage of nationwide residential washing machine sales has a law 24
in effect that requires new residential washing machines to be 25
capable of filtering microfibers; or 26
(B) A state bordering Washington requires new residential washing 27
machines to be capable of filtering microfibers, and the department 28
determines that there will be a significant market for residential 29
washing machines with such a capability; and 30
(ii)(A) The costs associated with adopting such a requirement 31
will not result in an increase in the median retail price of new 32
residential washing machines sold in Washington of more than 10 33
percent; or 34
(B) The median cost, to the manufacturer or as determined based 35
on the impact on the retail price of a new residential washing 36
machine of adding in-line filtration, is under $70.37
(b) A rule adopted under this subsection (2) may take effect no 38
sooner than 365 days after the adoption of the rule. The department 39
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may not start a rule making under this subsection prior to July 1, 1
2030. 2
(3) A person that owns or operates a commercial washing machine 3
or industrial washing machine not subject to the requirements of 4
subsection (1) of this section must equip the washing machine with a 5
functioning microfiber filtration system by no later than July 1, 6
2034. 7
(4) A person that owns or operates a commercial washing machine 8
or industrial washing machine that contains or is equipped with a 9
functioning microfiber filtration system must ensure that the filter 10
is checked regularly and functional, and captured lint disposed of in 11
a solid waste collection container. 12
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The department may adopt rules for the 13
purpose of implementing, administering, and enforcing this chapter.14
(2) The department may issue a corrective action order to a 15
person in violation of requirements specified in section 3 of this 16
act including, but not limited to, any action that results in 17
discharges of microfibers. 18
(3) A person violating a requirement of this chapter, a rule 19
issued under this chapter, or an order issued under this chapter is 20
subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for each violation in 21
the case of a first offense. Repeat violations are subject to a civil 22
penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each repeat offense.23
(4) Any penalty provided for in this section, and any order 24
issued by the department under this chapter, may be appealed to the 25
pollution control hearings board. 26
(5) All penalties collected under this chapter shall be deposited 27
in the model toxics control operating account created in RCW 28
70A.305.180. 29
Sec. 5. RCW 43.21B.110 and 2025 c 327 s 1, 2025 c 319 s 6, 2025 30
c 316 s 301, 2025 c 314 s 13, 2025 c 311 s 7, and 2025 c 58 s 1008 31
are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:32
(1) The hearings board shall only have jurisdiction to hear and 33
decide appeals from the following decisions of the department, the 34
director, local conservation districts, the air pollution control 35
boards or authorities as established pursuant to chapter 70A.15 RCW, 36
local health departments, the department of natural resources, the 37
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department of fish and wildlife, the parks and recreation commission, 1
and authorized public entities described in chapter 79.100 RCW:2
(a) Civil penalties imposed pursuant to chapter 70A.230 RCW and 3
RCW 18.104.155, 70A.15.3160, 70A.300.090, 70A.20.050, 70A.205.740, 4
70A.205.280, 70A.205.545, 70A.355.070, 70A.430.070, 70A.500.260, 5
((70A.505.100, 70A.505.110,)) 70A.530.040, 70A.350.070, 70A.515.060, 6
70A.245.040, 70A.245.050, 70A.245.070, 70A.245.080, 70A.245.130, 7
70A.245.140, 70A.65.200, 70A.455.090, 70A.535.180, 70A.550.030, 8
70A.555.110, 70A.560.020, 70A.208.230, 70A.565.030, section 3 of this 9
act, 76.04.205, 76.09.170, 77.55.440, 78.44.250, 88.46.090, 10
90.03.600, 90.46.270, 90.48.144, 90.56.310, 90.56.330, and 90.64.102.11
(b) Orders issued pursuant to RCW 18.104.043, 18.104.060, 12
18.104.130, 43.27A.190, 70A.15.2520, 70A.15.3010, 70A.15.4530, 13
70A.15.6010, 70A.205.740, 70A.205.280, 70A.214.140, 70A.300.120, 14
70A.350.070, 70A.245.020, 70A.65.200, 70A.535.180, ((70A.505.100,)) 15
70A.555.110, 70A.560.020, 70A.208.230, 70A.565.030, section 3 of this 16
act, 86.16.020, 88.46.070, 90.03.665, 90.14.130, 90.46.250, 17
90.48.120, 90.48.240, 90.56.330, and 90.64.040. 18
(c) Except as provided in RCW 90.03.210(2), the issuance, 19
modification, or termination of any permit, certificate, or license 20
by the department or any air authority in the exercise of its 21
jurisdiction, including the issuance or termination of a waste 22
disposal permit, the denial of an application for a waste disposal 23
permit, the modification of the conditions or the terms of a waste 24
disposal permit, a decision to approve or deny a solid waste 25
management plan under RCW 70A.205.055, approval or denial of an 26
application for a beneficial use determination under RCW 70A.205.260, 27
an application for a change under RCW 90.03.383, or a permit to 28
distribute reclaimed water under RCW 90.46.220. 29
(d) Decisions of local health departments regarding the granting 30
or denial of solid waste permits pursuant to chapter 70A.205 RCW, 31
including appeals by the department as provided in RCW 70A.205.130.32
(e) Decisions of local health departments regarding the issuance 33
and enforcement of permits to use or dispose of biosolids under RCW 34
70A.226.090. 35
(f) Decisions of the department regarding waste-derived 36
fertilizer or micronutrient fertilizer under RCW 15.54.820.37
(g) Decisions of local conservation districts related to the 38
denial of approval or denial of certification of a dairy nutrient 39
management plan; conditions contained in a plan; application of any 40
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dairy nutrient management practices, standards, methods, and 1
technologies to a particular dairy farm; and failure to adhere to the 2
plan review and approval timelines in RCW 90.64.026 as provided in 3
RCW 90.64.028. 4
(h) Any other decision by the department or an air authority 5
which pursuant to law must be decided as an adjudicative proceeding 6
under chapter 34.05 RCW. 7
(i) Decisions of the department of natural resources, the 8
department of fish and wildlife, and the department that are 9
reviewable under chapter 76.09 RCW, and the department of natural 10
resources' appeals of county, city, or town objections under RCW 11
76.09.050(7). 12
(j) Forest health hazard orders issued by the commissioner of 13
public lands under RCW 76.06.180. 14
(k) Decisions of the department of fish and wildlife to issue, 15
deny, condition, or modify a hydraulic project approval permit under 16
chapter 77.55 RCW, to issue a stop work order, to issue a notice to 17
comply, to issue a civil penalty, or to issue a notice of intent to 18
disapprove applications. 19
(l) Decisions of the department of natural resources that are 20
reviewable under RCW 78.44.270. 21
(m) Decisions of an authorized public entity under RCW 79.100.010 22
to take temporary possession or custody of a vessel or to contest the 23
amount of reimbursement owed that are reviewable by the hearings 24
board under RCW 79.100.120. 25
(n) Decisions of the department of ecology that are appealable 26
under RCW 70A.245.020 to set recycled minimum postconsumer content 27
for products or to temporarily exclude types of products in plastic 28
containers from minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements.29
(o) Orders by the department of ecology under RCW 70A.455.080.30
(p) Decisions by the department of ecology under RCW 31
70A.208.150(5) regarding a proposal by a producer responsibility 32
organization to count materials sent to an alternative recycling 33
facility towards recycling performance targets. 34
(q) Decisions of the department of natural resources under RCW 35
76.04.205. 36
(2) The following hearings shall not be conducted by the hearings 37
board: 38
(a) Hearings required by law to be conducted by the shorelines 39
hearings board pursuant to chapter 90.58 RCW, except where appeals to 40
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the pollution control hearings board and appeals to the shorelines 1
hearings board have been consolidated pursuant to RCW 43.21B.340.2
(b) Hearings conducted by the department pursuant to RCW 3
70A.15.3010, 70A.15.3070, 70A.15.3080, 70A.15.3090, 70A.15.3100, 4
70A.15.3110, and 90.44.180. 5
(c) Appeals of decisions by the department under RCW 90.03.110 6
and 90.44.220. 7
(d) Hearings conducted by the department to adopt, modify, or 8
repeal rules. 9
(3) Review of rules and regulations adopted by the hearings board 10
shall be subject to review in accordance with the provisions of the 11
administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. 12
Sec. 6. RCW 43.21B.300 and 2025 c 316 s 302 and 2025 c 58 s 3008 13
are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:14
(1) Any civil penalty provided in RCW 18.104.155, 70A.15.3160, 15
70A.205.280, 70A.230.080, 70A.300.090, 70A.20.050, 70A.245.040, 16
70A.245.050, 70A.245.070, 70A.245.080, 70A.245.130, 70A.245.140, 17
70A.65.200, 70A.430.070, 70A.455.090, 70A.500.260, ((70A.505.110,)) 18
70A.555.110, 70A.560.020, 70A.208.230, 70A.565.030, section 3 of this 19
act, 86.16.081, 88.46.090, 90.03.600, 90.46.270, 90.48.144, 20
90.56.310, 90.56.330, and 90.64.102 and chapter 70A.355 RCW shall be 21
imposed by a notice in writing, either by certified mail with return 22
receipt requested or by personal service, to the person incurring the 23
penalty from the department or the local air authority, describing 24
the violation with reasonable particularity. For penalties issued by 25
local air authorities, within 30 days after the notice is received, 26
the person incurring the penalty may apply in writing to the 27
authority for the remission or mitigation of the penalty. Upon 28
receipt of the application, the authority may remit or mitigate the 29
penalty upon whatever terms the authority in its discretion deems 30
proper. The authority may ascertain the facts regarding all such 31
applications in such reasonable manner and under such rules as it may 32
deem proper and shall remit or mitigate the penalty only upon a 33
demonstration of extraordinary circumstances such as the presence of 34
information or factors not considered in setting the original 35
penalty. 36
(2) Any penalty imposed under this section may be appealed to the 37
pollution control hearings board in accordance with this chapter if 38
the appeal is filed with the hearings board and served on the 39
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department or authority 30 days after the date of receipt by the 1
person penalized of the notice imposing the penalty or 30 days after 2
the date of receipt of the notice of disposition by a local air 3
authority of the application for relief from penalty.4
(3) A penalty shall become due and payable on the later of:5
(a) 30 days after receipt of the notice imposing the penalty;6
(b) 30 days after receipt of the notice of disposition by a local 7
air authority on application for relief from penalty, if such an 8
application is made; or 9
(c) 30 days after receipt of the notice of decision of the 10
hearings board if the penalty is appealed. 11
(4) If the amount of any penalty is not paid to the department 12
within 30 days after it becomes due and payable, the attorney 13
general, upon request of the department, shall bring an action in the 14
name of the state of Washington in the superior court of Thurston 15
county, or of any county in which the violator does business, to 16
recover the penalty. If the amount of the penalty is not paid to the 17
authority within 30 days after it becomes due and payable, the 18
authority may bring an action to recover the penalty in the superior 19
court of the county of the authority's main office or of any county 20
in which the violator does business. In these actions, the procedures 21
and rules of evidence shall be the same as in an ordinary civil 22
action. 23
(5) All penalties recovered shall be paid into the state treasury 24
and credited to the general fund except the following:25
(a) Penalties imposed pursuant to RCW 18.104.155 must be credited 26
to the reclamation account as provided in RCW 18.104.155(7);27
(b) Penalties imposed pursuant to RCW 70A.15.3160 must be 28
disposed of pursuant to RCW 70A.15.3160; 29
(c) Penalties imposed pursuant to RCW 70A.230.080, 70A.300.090, 30
70A.430.070, 70A.555.110, 70A.560.020, and 70A.565.030 must be 31
credited to the model toxics control operating account created in RCW 32
70A.305.180; 33
(d) Penalties imposed pursuant to RCW 70A.245.040, 70A.245.050, 34
and chapter 70A.208 RCW must be credited to the recycling enhancement 35
account created in RCW 70A.245.100; 36
(e) Penalties imposed pursuant to RCW 70A.500.260 must be 37
deposited into the electronic products recycling account created in 38
RCW 70A.500.130; 39
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(f) Penalties imposed pursuant to RCW 70A.65.200 must be credited 1
to the climate investment account created in RCW 70A.65.250;2
(g) Penalties imposed pursuant to RCW 90.56.330 must be credited 3
to the coastal protection fund established in RCW 90.48.390; and4
(h) Penalties imposed pursuant to RCW 70A.355.070 must be 5
credited to the underground storage tank account created in RCW 6
70A.355.090. 7
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 1 through 4 of this act 8
constitute a new chapter in Title 70A RCW.9
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