EUGENE, Ore. – The “Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act” has officially come into effect in Oregon. This landmark legislation positions Oregon as the first state to implement an “Extended Producer Responsibility” law.
Manufacturers of packaging, paper, and food serviceware are now required to contribute to funding recycling services. This means that residents in Lane County and across Oregon will soon see food and beverage cartons, pizza boxes, and round plastic containers like margarine tubs, plant pots, and buckets collected in curbside recycling bins.
“What that really means for residents in Lane County and residents in the state of Oregon is that they will be able to recycle more comingled material at our facilities and at the curb,” said Angie Marzano, Waste Reduction Program Supervisor at Lane Transfer Station.
New “Recycle On Oregon” centers are set to open in the coming months and years. These centers will allow people to drop off stretchy plastics, plastic lids, and other items that cannot be collected curbside.
The Recycling Modernization Act, passed by lawmakers in 2021, aims to improve recycling across the state. Officials emphasize that the law creates consistency in what gets recycled statewide and brings more transparency to where those recycled items end up. It also places greater responsibility on producers of packaging and paper products by requiring them to pay a fee that supports waste prevention and reuse in Oregon.
Oregon is one of seven states to have passed similar laws. In Eugene, residents will be able to recycle more items at home, including milk cartons, plastic tubs, scrap metal, and bulky plastic items like buckets or storage containers.