Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon.gov Homepage

Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act

The Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act will update Oregon’s outdated recycling system by building on local community programs and leveraging the resources of producers to create an innovative system that works for everyone. The Oregon legislature passed the Recycling Modernization Act (Senate Bill 582) during the 2021 legislative session. The new law became effective Jan. 1, 2022 and recycling program changes will start in July 2025.

About the new law

This system-wide update will make recycling easier for the public to use, expand access to recycling services, upgrade the facilities that sort recyclables, and create environmental benefits while reducing social and environmental harms, such as plastic pollution. Producers and manufacturers of packaged items, paper products and food serviceware will pay for many of these necessary improvements and help ensure recycling is successful in Oregon.

envelopeGreen.gif Sign up for text or email updates via GovDelivery.

Implementation

The start-up phase will span multiple years with extensive planning, research, rulemaking and engagement with interested parties. DEQ will keep people informed and seek input through several different channels throughout that time.

View: Printable Recycling Modernization Act Informational Brochure​

In November 2022, DEQ invited local government officials, service providers, and wasteshed representatives to attend informational presentations about the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act. Attendees learned how the Act may impact local communities and heard about opportunities for expanding recycling services in each of the jurisdictions.​

DEQ and its consultant, Eunomia Research and Consulting Inc. conducted additional outreach to local governments and service providers on the needs assessment survey via information sessions held in January 2023. For more information, visit the ​Local Government Needs Assessment page.

DEQ is convening a technical workgroup to evaluate data and provide information related to commingled recycling processing facilities, specifically related to fees and permit and certification programs.​

Visit the proposed rulemaking page for information about the current rulemaking and advisory committee meetings. 

​

Producer responsibility organizations are required to provide funding or reimbursement to local governments or their service providers for aspects of the local recycling system under ORS 459A.890 (Section 13 of the Recycling Modernization Act). PROs need to describe how they will fulfill these requirements in their program plans which must be submitted to DEQ by March 31, 2024. DEQ is preparing rules in order to ensure PROs understand how they need to fund local governments and what to include in their program plans. 

Compensation to expand recycling collection

All Oregon cities and counties, regardless of size, will be eligible to receive funding from producer responsibility organizations for new expansion of on-route collection for residents and businesses, depot collection or both for covered recycling products under ORS 459A.890(5).

For more information about local governments' eligibility to receive funding for expanding recycling collection services and the Needs Assessment Survey, visit DEQ's web page Local Government Recycling Collection Expansion Needs Assessment.

Recycling Council 

The Recycling Council meets every other month to advise DEQ and the Producer Responsibility Organizations on key recycling system elements. Content from previous meetings and details on future meetings can be found on the Oregon Recycling System Advisory Council web page.

Resources and information from past activities

Contact

For more information email RethinkRecycling@deq.oregon.gov.

For media inquiries:
Jennifer Flynt
Public Affairs Specialist
Office: 503-229-6585, Cell: 503-730-5924

Newsletters