Finds that global climate change presents an immediate challenge to the state of Washington to move away from a carbon-based economy, and reduce its use of greenhouse gas-producing fossil fuels.

Finds that beverage containers that are not recycled contribute substantially to unnecessary waste, including wasted raw materials, wasted electricity to create new containers, and litter, which takes up scarce landfill space. Therefore, the legislature finds that increased incentives to recycle beverage containers will reduce waste and reduce the use of fossil fuels.