Washington State Department of Ecology

Recycling Reform Act will lower recycling costs in Washington state

Major upgrades to the residential recyling system are coming. Producers will be responsible for residential packaging waste, ...
Washington State Department of Ecology

Study shows fecal bacteria levels have declined in the Snohomish River Basin

Over the course of many decades, human activities led to water polluted by fecal bacteria in the Snohomish River Basin. Today ...
Washington State Department of Ecology

Good things happen when communities redevelop brownfields

Our return-on-investment research describes tangible outcomes in terms of numbers, such as jobs created, acres redeveloped, ...
Washington State Department of Ecology

NextCycle honors innovative recycling projects

Reuse and recycling efforts for sports gear, wedding décor, software and composting were celebrated at the annual Pitch ...
agr.wa.gov

Whitman County livestock operation penalized for ongoing water quality violations along Steptoe Creek

For the first time since 2013, the Washington Department of Ecology issued a penalty in Eastern Washington for polluted runoff from farming operations. Greg, Dan, and Doug Stout of Whitman County ...
agr.wa.gov

Did record rainfall end Washington’s drought?

Low snowpack in many Washington river basins means drought remains on the table for 2026 As we enter 2026, let’s take a moment to check in on what a wild month of December weather has meant for ...
agr.wa.gov

VoltaGrid Electric Generation Plant, Quincy

We propose to approve VoltaGrid Electric Generation Plant's air quality notice of construction (NOC) application. VoltaGrid submitted a notice of construction application for their site located east ...
agr.wa.gov

Risk MAP for homeowners

Ecology leads floodplain management for Washington. We provide technical assistance to local communities to help them better plan within the floodplain. We work to reduce losses to life and property, ...
agr.wa.gov

Washington’s Environmental Justice Law (HEAL Act)

As the state’s lead environmental agency, our mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. As we work to build a healthier environment, we must make ...
agr.wa.gov

Model Toxics Control Act

The Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) is Washington’s environmental cleanup law. MTCA funds and directs the investigation, cleanup, and prevention of sites that are contaminated by hazardous substances.
agr.wa.gov

Water availability

Climate change is increasing the uncertainty of Washington’s water supplies. Recent droughts created hardships for farmers, ranchers, small communities and aquatic species. Drought and climate impacts ...
agr.wa.gov

Curtailing water use

A person or group may be granted a water right to use a volume of water, for a defined purpose, in a specific place. Under Washington’s “first-in-time, first in right” legal framework, a person who ...