OLYMPIA, Wash. – A new law targeting litter and plastic waste took effect today in Washington State.
The fine for littering up to one cubic foot rose from $50 to $125, upgrading it from a class three to a class two civil infraction.
This is in addition to the existing base penalty of $93 for throwing or dropping material onto state highways.
In 2024, the Washington State Department of Ecology said litter-pickup programs collected 5.2 million pounds of litter across the state. These efforts spanned more than 18,000 miles of road.
Additionally, public areas such as parks, recreation areas, and rest areas see 11.6 million pounds annually, Ecology said.
