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

Capitol Lake drawdown will allow shoreline survey

As part of efforts to restore the Deschutes Estuary, water levels in Capitol Lake will be drawn down in late July 2026. Starting on July 19, the water gate on the 5 th Avenue Dam will be opened, ...
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

Nat Kale picked to direct Ecology’s Office of Chehalis Basin

Washington Department of Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller has tapped Nat Kale to serve as director for the agency’s Office of Chehalis Basin. In his role, Kale will oversee the state’s efforts to ...
agr.wa.gov

Employment FAQs (frequently asked questions)

Find answers to common questions about the application process, where to find accommodations for submitting an application, how to calculate work experience and more. How do I request accommodations ...
agr.wa.gov

Organics management for local governments

The waiver application period for the 2027 ORCA requirements is now open. Jurisdictions that implement a solid waste management plan can apply for a waiver. This can be a county or a city. We ...
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 ...
agr.wa.gov

Washington water supply update

Once again, the Water Supply Availability Committee, a group of state and federal water supply experts, has brought news of the ongoing drought. It’s not over, and with the arrival of El Niño ...