Learning from social enterprises creating an inclusive circular economy

Washington State Legislators Sen. Kevin Ranker (D-Orcas Island) and Rep. Strom Peterson (D-Edmonds) recently held a press conference at the Seattle Aquarium, and were joined by the Surfrider Foundation and a coalition of advocates in support of the “Washington Reusable Bag Act” to announce they are introducing companion bills in January, 2019, at the state legislature to address plastic pollution and recycling contamination due to plastic bags. The reusable bag legislation will build off the existing 23 local ordinances already in place in the state of Washington.  The coalition organizations supporting this policy include: Environment Washington, Puget Soundkeeper, Seattle Aquarium, Surfrider Foundation and Zero Waste Washington.  Washington State Represenative Strom Peterson speaks at the Seattle Aquarium along with coalition partners. Photo credit Seattle Aquarium. Surfrider Foundation Washington chapters have been active leaders on this issue in Washington for many years. They have helped to pass plastic bag ordinances at the local level, most notably playing a lead role in the city of Bellingham, which served as a model for other communities. The chapters have also played a key role in the passage of a bag ban in the city of Tacoma.  The problem:  Plastic bags are problematic in the litter…