Five New Laws To Reduce Waste And Toxics Going Into Effect In Oregon In 2025

Five new laws to reduce waste and toxics going into effect in Oregon in 2025

As we start 2025, Oregon isn’t just making a New Year’s resolution to help the planet, lawmakers have passed laws to make sure we actually do. Many policies will be going into effect in 2025 that will protect public health, reduce waste, improve recycling and keep electronic devices in use for longer.

The new laws going into effect on January 1, 2025:

The Right to Repair for personal electronics and household appliances. This law requires manufacturers to provide Oregonians and small businesses access to the parts, tools and service information needed to repair personal electronics and household appliances. This would help keep these devices in use for longer, conserving precious natural resources and preventing waste.
Restriction on the sale, use or distribution of polystyrene foam foodware, packing peanuts and single-use coolers statewide. Polystyrene foam is a form of plastic made from fossil fuels and commonly used for food containers and packaging. It’s usually thrown away after a single use. It breaks up easily into smaller pieces that are hard to clean up, disperse rapidly, and can persist in the environment for centuries.
Restriction on the sale, use or distribution of food packaging containing PFAS. PFAS are a class of highly fluorinated toxic chemicals used in many food containers and packaging due to their oil-, stain- and water-repellent properties. PFAS accumulate in the environment and human bodies and are linked to cancer, high cholesterol, reproductive and thyroid problems and immune suppression.
The elimination of toxic fluorescent light bulbs. Fluorescent lights contain mercury, which is a potent and persistent neurotoxin, by design. Non-toxic, highly efficient alternatives are broadly available. The new law would prohibit the sale or distribution of new pin-base type compact or linear style fluorescent lamps. Screw and bayonet-base type compact fluorescent lamps were prohibited beginning in 2024. This will eliminate a toxin from the waste stream, reduce energy waste and save consumers money.

Another new law going into effect later in the year, on July 1, 2025, is the Recycling Modernization Act. This new law will improve recycling services and expand them to even more Oregonians, ensure that materials are recycled in a responsible manner, and make producers bear some of the costs of managing the waste created by their products.

All of these new laws going into effect in 2025 will make Oregon a national leader in reducing waste and toxic chemicals in consumer products, helping us build a cleaner, greener future.

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Authors

As director of Environment Oregon, Celeste develops and runs campaigns to win real results for Oregon’s environment. She has worked on issues ranging from preventing plastic pollution, stopping global warming, defending clean water, and protecting our beautiful places. Celeste’s organizing has helped to reduce kids’ exposure to lead in drinking water at childcare facilities in Oregon, encourage transportation electrification, ban single-use plastic grocery bags, defend our bedrock environmental laws and more. She is also the author of the children’s book, Myrtle the Turtle, empowering kids to prevent plastic pollution. Celeste lives in Portland, Ore., with her husband and two daughters, where they frequently enjoy the bounty of Oregon’s natural beauty.

Charlie directs OSPIRG’s campaigns to rein in the cost of health care, get big money out of politics and stand up for consumers. In a previous advocacy role with Environment Oregon, Charlie was part of successful efforts to increase Oregon’s clean energy commitments and get the state off coal. Charlie’s work has earned coverage in the Oregonian and other local and regional news outlets around Oregon. Charlie lives in Portland, Ore., where he enjoys bike rides along the Springwater Corridor and the city’s local music and food scenes.