Oregon – Aimed at streamlining procedures and lowering plastic pollution, Oregon is getting ready for a major revamp in its recycling rules. Recently adopted by Oregon’s Environmental Quality Commission, the new regulations will include a consistent list of recyclables and necessitate recycling centers in multi-unit residences beginning July 1, 2025.
This project fits under the larger Plastic Pollution and Modernization Act, which aims to simplify recycling initiatives throughout the state following four years of protracted negotiations and planning. Calculated based on the weight and recyclability of their products, the Act adds new packaging costs for companies. These costs are greater for materials that are difficult to recycle, such as some plastics, which motivates producers to choose less heavy, more environmentally friendly substitutes.
Historically, Oregon has placed some responsibility for the end-of-life costs of products like paint, mattresses, and electronics on the manufacturers. These new rules are built on that idea, now covering regular packaging materials under producer responsibility.
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The Circular Action Alliance (CCA), a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit, will handle collecting and distributing all of the additional fees in a creative approach to fund management. Originally started by global companies including Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Nestle, the CCA also oversees similar recycling projects in other states like California and Colorado. The money generated will be put into neighborhood programs improving Oregon’s recycling system, therefore promoting a more sustainable waste management environment.
Beginning next summer, the state will also publish a uniform list of recyclable items to help to remove uncertainty and integrate recycling methods across all areas. This list is crucial for residents and businesses alike, ensuring everyone knows what can be recycled and how.
The rules also mandate that managers and owners of multi-family homes—such as apartment buildings—must offer their renters sufficient recycling options. For those living in multi-unit buildings, who have traditionally encountered difficulties with convenient recycling, this action is likely to significantly raise recycling rates.
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Other legislative initiatives meant to lower waste and increase recycling accuracy supplement the Act. With the latter due to take effect in January, two noteworthy laws passed in Oregon in 2023 are bans on Styrofoam containers for takeaway food and clearer product labeling about recyclability.
Despite these incremental changes, problems still exist. With the average American creating over 200 pounds of plastic waste yearly, the United States leads worldwide in plastic waste generation. Given only over 9% of this waste being recycled annually, much of it winds up in the environment and causes major contamination of rivers and oceans.
The 2021 research by local group Environment Oregon on all tested rivers and lakes in the state revealed microplastics, therefore underscoring the ubiquitous character of plastic pollution.
These new rules mark a significant step towards tackling environmental issues and provide a model for comprehensive waste management and recycling methods other states could later adopt.
