On Friday, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) advanced the second and final set of rules to implement Oregon’s groundbreaking Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act.
This new law will modernize Oregon’s recycling system, ensure responsible end markets for recyclables, bring producers in to start bearing some of the costs of the system and expand recycling services to even more Oregonians.
These big changes will be going into effect on July 1, 2025 (read more about it here).
One of the most promising elements of the Recycling Modernization Act is that while we are fixing and expanding the recycling system, there is also a built-in mechanism for investment in waste prevention. Through the rules just passed by the EQC, producers will now be required to pay a $15 million “Waste Prevention and Reuse Fee” every year that can be used to stop waste at the source in a variety of ways. These investments could include everything from investing in the infrastructure needed for replacing single-use items with reusables to pollution control technology to repair and lifespan extension of certain products and more.
For too long, taxpayers, ratepayers, the environment, and future generations have been bearing the costs of our waste management system. Oregon is now bringing in the producers of packaging and other products to help bear some of the costs alongside the rest of us.
The Recycling Modernization Act will help build a future with less waste and pollution, and requiring producers to significantly invest in waste prevention is among the biggest opportunities we have to build that future here in Oregon.
To learn more about Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act, head to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s webpage, which includes factsheets and videos with more information.
