Oregon’s new recycling rules are in effect, expanding what Lane County residents can recycle

Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act (RMA) took effect July 1, expanding the list of items that can be recycled. But if you’re still confused about what can and cannot be tossed in the recycling bin, you’re not alone. 

Haulers are starting to update information about what new materials can be put into curbside recycling bins, but some resources show outdated and conflicting information.

“First and foremost the message for RMA in general and one you’ve probably heard before is, it’s a dial not a switch,” said Emilie Krecklow, the city of Eugene’s Recycling Modernization Act analyst. “So that July 1st start date really is the start date; it’s not the date of everything that the RMA does is accomplished and in effect.”

But she confirmed that residents in Eugene can recycle everything on the Uniform Statewide Collection List as of July 1, even if your hauler has not specifically provided you with information about it (see the list below).

Royal Refuse sales manager Joey Brandsness said the company is updating its website and preparing materials about the new guidelines for its July 15 newsletter. Apex and Sanipac did not respond to Lookout Eugene-Springfield’s requests for comment on what changes their customers should start to see and when.

But Krecklow said the city worked very closely with all haulers, including Apex and Sanipac, and those companies confirmed they would start collections in July for the Uniform State Collections List materials.

“Our public rollout and our education process will take some time and we do have some plans for that,” she said.

Trash companies statewide are still figuring out how new changes will affect their businesses and customers. As funding becomes available through the law, local governments and waste companies will work with an organization called Circular Action Alliance to update the state’s recycling system.

“The big changes will come down the road,” Brandsness said. “Circular Alliance is paying for our cart tags and stickers, so we won’t have to pay for things like new stickers for educational purposes, but we’re still not 100% sure how all that’s going to work. Everything is super-fresh.”

Part of the reason for the delay in receiving and distributing educational materials is related to how funding works under the law. The money comes from producers of packaging, paper, and food serviceware that pay membership fees to Oregon’s Extended Producer Responsibility Organization program. The program did not begin charging fees until July 1, when the law went into effect. Those fees are funding educational materials such as those mentioned by Brandsness. 

“We placed our order for 1,000 flyers in English and Spanish on June 30,” said Kelly Bell, coordinator for Lane County’s Master Recycler program, which educates community volunteers on waste- and recycling-related issues. “We couldn’t order sooner than that, because the funding was not going to be available.”

One of the reasons the Recycling Modernization Act was needed is that it expands access to recycling services, especially in rural areas. It also will fund upgrades to recycling facilities, and create a uniform list of recyclables that is collected everywhere in the state.

Krecklow can only speak to Eugene’s level of adoption of the act, but she did say that Eugene residents with curbside recycling are able to put Uniform Statewide Collection List (USCL) materials in their bins. That might not be true everywhere.

“It will take a little bit of time for everyone to be brought up to the same level,” Krecklow said. 

What equipment you have determines what you can recycle right now. If you live in Lane County and you have a large wheeled cart, you can start recycling all the new items in your roll cart as of July 1, because your hauler already has trucks equipped to handle these containers.

If you have a small bin or box, you’ll need to wait for your hauler to get funding to buy roll carts and trucks with the lift-up arm that can handle the roll carts. In the meantime, you can take plastic tubs and cartons to your local transfer station, but continue recycling other items as you have been.

Krecklow encourages people who do not live within city limits to check in with either their local government or their trash hauler.

Krecklow and the city of Eugene have begun an education campaign. Look for information at tables at events over the summer. She also said the Circular Action Alliance will begin running a statewide campaign about the new recycling rules through radio ads, billboards, and other methods — that’s all part of the funding that is being generated as of July 1. 

Krecklow noted that the city of Eugene’s informational website, EugeneRecycles.org, and the WasteWise Lane County App have both been updated to reflect what is recyclable in Lane County. 

“[Implementation] will be a bit of a slow roll, just because the RMA is very comprehensive,” Krecklow said. “A lot will be changing over the next couple of years.”

Bottom line: Continue looking for information from your hauler about changes, and if you have questions about specific items, reach out to your hauler. 

Oregon’s Uniform Statewide Collection List: 

Plastic 

Acceptable plastic bottles, jars, jugs, and tubs are containers from products used in the laundry, kitchen, or bath. Shampoo, laundry soap, and home cleaning products are OK but not plastic from the garage or yard — no yard chemical jugs or motor oil jugs, for instance.

• #1 bottles, jars, and jugs
  • Clear, transparent blue, and transparent green only 

• #2 and #5 bottles, jars, and jugs
  • All colors and no color
  • Includes caps if threaded back on
  • Excludes items less than 2 inches in two directions. 

• #1, #2, and #5 tubs
  • Excludes food serviceware
  • Excludes items less than 2 inches in two directions
  • Excludes flat lids

• #2 and #5 buckets, nursery plant containers, and pails
  • While there is no upper size limit defined in rule, these items need to fit easily into the bin. 

Metal

• Aluminum and steel cans and scrap metal
• Less than 10 pounds or 18 inches
• No cords, wires, or sharp items
• No aluminum foil, pressed foil products, or aerosol cans

Cardboard and cartons

• Food and beverage cartons (milk cartons, aseptic soup boxes)
• Flattened cardboard, packaging boxes
• Delivery pizza boxes (must be empty with no food residue)

Paper

• Newspaper, magazines, mail
• Cereal and cracker boxes, egg cartons
• Office paper, paperback books, paper bags
• Non-metallic gift wrap
• No boxes from frozen and refrigerated foods

Glass should be recycled separately in a glass-only bin or brought to a drop-off site. All items must be empty and dry and placed loose into recycling containers. No bagged recyclables.