Oregon recycling
Northwest Polymers - Serving Oregon to Enhance Its Green Status
The state of Oregon is famed for its scenic beauty and clean air, but the realities of modern living means that even here, a proactive attitude towards recycling has had to be applied. In fact, Oregon recycling has been a leading light, with the state being the first to introduce a law regarding recycling plastic bottles.
And, the state has gone from strength to strength. In 2003, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality reported that 27% of all rigid plastic containers - including bottles, cups, tubs and pails - were recycled in the state, a figure that beat the mandatory percentage rate by 2%.
The enthusiasm for recycling in Oregon means that figure has increased over the years. In 2007, an estimated 20,000 tons of rigid plastic containers were recycled in the state - the highest amount to date - representing 30% of the overall plastic sold.
Growing awareness of the benefits of plastic recycling has seen individuals managing their domestic waste and businesses managing the commercial and industrial waste strive to make a difference in the landfill and environmental issues presented by plastic.
For almost a decade, Northwest Polymers has been playing a leading role in the promotion of responsible plastic recycling in Oregon, as well as the promotion of second generation plastic products through our supply of high quality recycled plastic in pellet, regrind and pulverized forms.
In fact, with a state-of-the-art recycling facility in Molalla, Oregon, we reach out to 10 cities and municipalities in the state, including the largest cities of Portland, Eugene, Salem, Gresham and Hillsboro.
And with a customer service that involves collecting waste plastic from selling clients, and shipping to purchasing clients, we ensure that ‘Oregon recycle’ translates to ‘Oregon benefits’
At Northwest Polymers, we are proud of our integral part in maintaining Oregon's status as a leading example of environmentally proactive and progressive activities. Through our services, waste is turned to revenue, cost-efficient recycled plastic is supplied to manufacturers, and our environment is made all that bit cleaner.
Please see the list below for more info on specific cities in Oregon.
Portland oregon is well known for its recycling habits. In fact more than 90% or Portland Oregon households participate in curbside recycling. We are proud to be Portland's plastic recycling staple.
Portland Oregon has been a huge participant in recycling plastic. See link for more info on plastic recycling in Portland.
Eugene Recycling
info coming soon
Salem Recycling
info coming soon
Gresham Recycling
info coming soon
Hillsboro Recycling
info coming soon
Beaverton Recycling
info coming soon
Bend Recycling
info coming soon
Medford Recycling
info coming soon
Springfield Recycling
info coming soon
Corvallis Recycling
info coming soon
State of Oregon recycling website
Interested in knowing more about Oregons recycling laws? click below
Oregon’s recycling laws ARE AMONG THE COUNTRY’S BEST.
The laws are found in ORS 459, 459A and 468.
Here’s where much of Oregon’s recycling history lies:
1971
Oregon enacted its Beverage Container Act also know as the “Bottle Bill.”
Approximately 90% of beverage containers purchased in Oregon are returned and kept out of the waste stream and landfills as the result of the bill.
Found in ORS 459A.700-740, the Bottle Bill’s main components are:
-All carbonated beverages sold in Oregon must have a refund value clearly marked on each container;
-Dealers and distributors must accept the empty containers of the kinds, sizes and brands of carbonated beverages that they sell, and refund the deposits to those returning the containers;
-Dealers and distributors may refuse to accept containers with visible contaminants inside or more than 144 containers from one person in a single day;
-Convenient redemption centers may be set up by anyone approved by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.
1983
Oregon legislators passed SB 405, the Opportunity to Recycle Act.
Today the state has a solid waste recovery rate of 35.7%.
The Opportunity to Recycle Act moved Oregon’s recycling programs forward by:
►Requiring monthly curbside recycling collection programs in cities of 4,000 or greater;
►Requiring convenient recycling drop-off facilities in cities under 4,000;
►Authorizing local governments to franchise garbage haulers in order to meet the requirements;
►Requiring local governments to promote recycling and regularly provide education to the general public on how to recycle.
1991
The legislature unanimously passed Senate Bill 66 to enhance recycling programs and develop markets for recovered materials.
It’s often called the most innovative recycling legislation since the Bottle Bill.
SB 66 set the state’s overall recycling goal at 50% by the year 2000 and banned the routine landfilling of vehicles, large appliances, used oil, tires and lead acid batteries.
It also required paper bags be offered by retailers wherever plastic bags are offered to help improve the market for one of Oregon’s
recycled products.
SB 66 established the Oregon Recycling Markets Development Council, a Governor-appointed council, funded by the industries it served, primarily paper, plastics and glass.
The new law further enhanced recycling and waste reduction by requiring:
►Weekly curbside recycling collection, with container provided, in cities of 4,000 or more;
►Regular yard debris collection programs and the promotion of home composting;
►Programs to collect source-separated recyclables from businesses;
►Internal recycling programs for state agencies and the legislature and reporting on waste composition and recycling from all levels of government;
►Recycling and waste reduction education curriculum for Oregon schools;
►Expanded public education and promotion programs for recycling;
►Minimum post-consumer recycled content for newsprint, phone directories and glass containers;
►Certain rigid plastic containers to contain recycled material be recyclable in Oregon or be reusable at least 5 times;
►Procurement standards for all public agencies, giving preference to products with recycled content, and standards for the use of yard debris and sewage sludge compost by state government.
1997
HB 3456, the Omnibus Recycling Bill, added the definition of “waste prevention” to existing recycling statutes and established the option for waste sheds to include waste prevention, home composting and reuse programs in their recovery rates.
The bill also requires:
*Waste sheds to adopt a new recovery goal, not lower than their 1995 goal or their 1996 rate, by July 1998;
*Waste sheds to, at least, maintain their 1995 required recovery rate or add 2 more program elements in their cities;
*Public demolition contracts to include salvage and recycling of debris, if feasible and cost effective;
*Local governments, choosing commercial recycling as one of their program elements, to actively promote it.
Also in 1997, HB 2402 required Oregon courts to print their filings on post-consumer content recycled paper, if the price is reasonable, and encouraged courts to do double sided copying.