
David Krug | stock.adobe.com
Oregon officially is the first U.S. state to implement an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for packaging, printing and writing paper and food serviceware.
Established under the state’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (RMA), signed into law in 2021, a number of stakeholders including Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) spent several years developing a plan that would provide statewide access to consistent, quality recycling, upgrade recycling facilities and establish accountability mechanisms for packaging producers to ensure materials are properly recycled.
RELATED: Oregon becomes second state to pass packaging EPR law
Improvements to the state’s recycling infrastructure are funded through fees paid by those producers. Overseeing the program as its producer responsibility organization (PRO) is the Washington-based Circular Action Alliance (CAA).
“Oregon’s recycling system has set a national standard,” Gov. Tina Kotek says in a news release celebrating the July 1 launch of the program. “Implementation is just the start. The Recycling Modernization Act will make sure of a future with less waste and pollution, holding producers responsible for their part in waste prevention.”
CAA says that through the RMA brands now will play a role in how materials are collected, sorted and processed statewide, helping address long-standing challenges such as gaps in recycling access, infrastructure limitations and consumer confusion.
Key elements of the program include:
- Producer registration and reporting: All obligated producers are required to register with CAA and submit brand and material data through the Producer Portal.
- Eco-modulated fee structure: Producers will contribute fees based on the type, weight and recyclability of materials placed on the market. Fees are structured to reward the use of recyclable, low-impact packaging, providing financial incentives for better design choices.
- Cost coverage: Producer contributions ensure compliance with the RMA by supporting the cost of processing covered materials, local government reimbursements, transportation of recyclables from rural areas, statewide education and outreach and the expansion of a drop-off network of recycling centers for materials not accepted in home or business recycling bins.
- Producer support: CAA provides technical assistance to help companies with registration and reporting requirements.
- Transparency and data access: Producers will have access to performance data and cost breakdowns to ensure accountability and inform packaging and compliance strategies.
“The launch of Oregon’s EPR program marks a historic step forward, empowering producers to lead the transition to a more circular system for packaging and paper,” says CAA CEO Jeff Fielkow. “By working together, we can reduce waste, improve recycling and build a model that delivers measurable impact while making it easier for producers to fulfill their sustainability commitments.”
According to the DEQ, obligated brands and producers began paying fees to CAA July 1. CAA’s program plan was approved in February, and producers were required to register with CAA and submit their supply data by March 31.
“Under the RMA, people in Oregon can be confident the materials they recycle are actually recycled and in a way that does not harm people or the environment, here or abroad,” DEQ Director Leah Feldon says. “The RMA brings transparency and accountability to Oregon’s recycling system.”
CAA says that by Dec. 31, 2027, Oregon’s EPR program aims to:
- expand curbside recycling access to more than 150,000 homes and businesses statewide;
- deploy nearly 100 new recycling collection trucks across the state;
- establish more than 140 new drop-off sites in communities statewide;
- deliver clear, consistent recycling education to help Oregonians recycle with confidence;
- reduce contamination and improve recycling system performance;
- standardize recycling statewide through the Uniform Statewide Collection List (USCL);
- make strategic investments to on-ramp identified materials into the recycling program; and
- achieve statewide recycling goals as outlined in the program plan
“Oregonians have always taken recycling seriously, but until now, the system hasn’t always made it easy to do the right thing,” CAA Executive Director Kim Holmes says. “Oregon’s new EPR program aims to modernize and simplify recycling across the state. Over the next few years, Oregonians will have access to clearer information, more consistent services and a stronger recycling system that reduces waste and creates a stronger circular economy.”
Oregon is the first of seven EPR states to launch its program. Colorado is scheduled to begin its program in 2026, followed by Maine and California in 2027. Minnesota, Maryland, and Washington also are developing their programs.
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