(1) The advisory council is established to review all activities conducted by producer responsibility organizations under this chapter and to advise the department and producer responsibility organizations regarding the implementation of this chapter.

(2) By January 1, 2026, the department must establish and appoint the initial membership of the advisory council. The membership of the advisory council must consist of the following:

(a) Two members representing manufacturers of covered materials or a statewide or national trade association representing those manufacturers;

(b) Two members representing recycling facilities that manage covered materials;

(c) One member representing a solid waste collection company or a statewide association representing solid waste collection companies;

(d) One member representing retailers of covered materials or a statewide trade association representing those retailers;

(e) One member representing a statewide nonprofit environmental organization;

(f) One member representing a community-based nonprofit environmental justice organization;

(g) One member representing entities that own or operate a material recovery facility;

(h) One member representing entities that own or operate a waste facility that accepts and processes compostable materials for composting or a statewide trade association that represents those facilities;

(i) One member representing an entity that develops or offers for sale covered materials that are designed for reuse or refill and maintained through a reuse or refill system or infrastructure or a statewide or national trade association that represents those entities;

(j) Three members representing government entities, with at least one member representing counties;

(k) One member representing tribal or indigenous solid waste services organizations;

(l) Two members representing other interested parties or additional members of interests represented under (a) through (k) of this subsection, as determined by the department, prioritizing representation of diverse communities, including marginalized groups, to ensure the activities carried out under this chapter reflect their perspectives;

(m) One nonvoting member representing each registered producer responsibility organization; and

(n) One nonvoting member representing the department.

(3) The department must appoint an equity subcommittee to the advisory council comprised of six representatives from overburdened communities or socially vulnerable populations, including representatives from three geographic locations in eastern Washington representing a small, medium, and large community. The equity subcommittee is responsible for informing and making recommendations to the advisory council, the department, and producer responsibility organizations regarding the impacts of activities under this chapter on socially vulnerable populations and overburdened communities, including the accessibility of covered services for covered materials to socially vulnerable populations and overburdened communities. At a minimum, the equity subcommittee must review and, as appropriate, provide information or make recommendations regarding needs assessments, submitted plans, and submitted annual reports. The department must appoint the members of the equity subcommittee based on solicited input received from the commission on African American affairs, the commission on Hispanic affairs, the commission on Asian Pacific American affairs, the LGBTQ commission, and the women's commission.

(4) In appointing members, the department:

(a) Is prohibited from appointing members who are state legislators or registered lobbyists;

(b) Is prohibited from appointing members who are employees of producers required to be members of a producer responsibility organization under this chapter; and

(c) Must endeavor to appoint members from all regions of the state.

(5)(a) The member appointed to represent the department serves at the pleasure of the department. All other members serve for a term of four years, except that the initial term for nine of the initial appointees must be two years so that membership terms are staggered. Members may be reappointed but may not serve more than eight consecutive years.

(b) A member may be removed by the department at any time. The chair of the advisory council must inform the department of a member missing three consecutive meetings. After the second consecutive missed meeting, the chair of the advisory council must notify the member in writing that the member may be removed for missing the next meeting. If there is a vacancy on the advisory council for any reason, the department shall make an appointment to become effective immediately for the unexpired term.

(6) Advisory councilmembers that are representatives of tribes, tribal or indigenous services organizations, community-based organizations, or environmental nonprofit organizations must, if requested, be compensated and reimbursed in accordance with RCW 43.03.050, 43.03.060, and 43.03.220.

(7)(a) A majority of the voting members of the advisory council constitutes a quorum. If there is a vacancy in the membership of the advisory council, a majority of the remaining voting members of the council constitutes a quorum.

(b) Action by the advisory council requires a quorum and a majority of those present and voting. All members of the advisory council, except the member appointed to represent the department and the member appointed to represent the producer responsibility organization, are voting members of the council.

(8)(a) The advisory council must meet at least two times per year and may meet more frequently upon 10 days' written notice at the request of the chair or a majority of its members.

(b) Meetings of the advisory council must comply with chapter 42.30 RCW, the open public meetings act.

(9) At its initial meeting, and every two years thereafter, the advisory council must elect a chair and vice chair from among its members.

(10) The department shall provide administrative and operating support to the advisory council, including compensation in accordance with subsection (6) of this section, and may contract with a third-party facilitator to assist in administering the activities of the advisory council, including establishing a website or landing page on the department website.

(11) The department must assist the advisory council in developing policies and procedures governing the disclosure of actual or perceived conflicts of interest that advisory councilmembers may have as a result of their employment or financial holdings with respect to themselves or family members. Each advisory councilmember is responsible for reviewing the conflict-of-interest policies and procedures. An advisory councilmember must disclose any instance of actual or perceived conflicts of interest at each meeting of the advisory council at which recommendations regarding plans, programs, operations, or activities are made by the advisory council.