San Juan Island Eco Club students and Friends of the San Juans celebrate a major policy victory in Olympia
Washington’s new Recycling Reform Act is now law, thanks in part to powerful student advocacy from San Juan County. Executive Director Eva Schulte of Friends of the San Juans was honored to represent Friends and our youth voices at the state capitol as Governor Bob Ferguson signed the bill, marking a statewide win for access to recycling, reduction of packaging, and rural communities. We are very appreciative of the bill sponsors, Senator Liz Lovelett and Representative Liz Berry, for their dedication, as well as Governor Bob Ferguson for his support.
The bill, years in the making, will help reduce excessive packaging, support reliable curbside recycling programs, and ensure that materials placed in recycling bins are actually recycled. It comes at a critical time: nearly half of Washington households currently lack access to curbside recycling, and under the new law, producers—not taxpayers—will take greater responsibility for managing packaging waste.
Thanks to the conitued support for Friends' members, history has been made. Backed by years of advocacy from partners, lead legislators, and San Juan Island High School Eco Club students, the Recycling Reform Act is now law! Friends of the San Juans has supported student advocates every step of the way—through weekly club engagement, classroom learning, beach experiences, and trips to Olympia. This landmark law will improve curbside recycling, reduce packaging waste, and ensure more materials are truly recycled across Washington.
High school students from Friday Harbor played a critical role in advancing the bill. Earlier this spring, members of the Friday Harbor High School Eco Club traveled to Olympia—supported by Friends of the San Juans and San Juan County Department of Environmental Stewardship staff—to meet with Senator Liz Lovelett and Representatives Alex Ramel and Debra Lekanoff. They shared their experiences navigating recycling on the islands and spoke up about the need for consistent statewide standards. Over the past three years, 32 local youth from Friday Harbor High School’s Eco Club have stepped up to advocate for statewide recycling reform.
“The students didn’t just learn about the legislative process—they participated in it,” said Jess Newley, Director of Community Science and Education at Friends of the San Juans. “They brought real-world stories from our islands into the Capitol, and those stories made a difference.”
The students’ visit was part of a broader effort that included community education, plastic waste reduction at their school, and grassroots organization. Their advocacy helped humanize the issue and highlight the challenges that rural and island communities face in accessing equitable recycling services.
“This is exactly what youth leadership looks like,” said Eva Schulte, Executive Director of Friends of the San Juans. “It’s not performative—it’s powerful. And Friends is proud to support young leaders in shaping policies that affect their lives and their communities.”
Katie Fleming, Solid Waste Program Coordinator with San Juan County and a longtime partner in local youth education efforts, added: “This bill is a meaningful step forward for islanders. We face unique barriers to effective recycling—limited infrastructure, transportation challenges, and inconsistent service options. This law brings us closer to a system that actually works for all communities, not just urban ones.”
The passage of the Recycling Reform Act marks a major milestone in Friends of the San Juans’ continued commitment to youth empowerment, public education, and statewide environmental advocacy.
