Oregon

Senator Janeen Sollman served as the House Champion of Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act (SB 582), which established Oregon’s EPR for packaging law. Oregon is the first U.S. state to have its EPR law take effect and has been live since July 1, 2025. Nickole Vargas serves the people of Senate District 15 as her Chief of Staff and continues to monitor its implementation and engage with stakeholders.

Recommendations for Policymakers Developing Circular Policy & EPR for Packaging Policies:

1. Build an Oversight Council: The Oregon Recycling System Advisory Council will advise the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Producer Responsibility Organizations on key recycling system elements, including the uniform statewide collection list, PRO program plans, and more. The Council consists of 17 members appointed by the Governor, plus two non-voting members of the Legislature appointed by the Senate President and Speaker of the House. Members of the Council represent local governments, community-based organizations representing the interests of historically underserved groups, small business, environmental nonprofit organizations, the recycling industry, service providers, processors or material end users and producers of covered products or producer trade associations or suppliers. The Recycling Council was first convened in spring 2022 for the initial development and implementation phase of the Recycling Modernization Act and will continue throughout ongoing implementation in perpetuity.

2. Transparency is key: I’m proud that Oregon is a leader in EPR in the United States, but as a result we needed to begin the conversation and all the negotiations, compromises and logistics that go along with starting a program as big as EPR without a roadmap. We approached this through extreme transparency about our needs and decision making process to make sure all stakeholders, no matter what their stance on EPR, understood the law and how we arrived at the language in our bill. In the long run, this has been helpful in addressing questions constituents and stakeholders have on the law and how we arrived at key decisions.

3. Look at existing municipal waste contracts: In Oregon, solid waste and recycling is managed locally by county and municipal governments. As a result, each community has unique infrastructure and existing contracts between service providers, such as recycling centers, landfills, and waste haulers, and local governments. There might also be labor considerations under these contracts as well. It is important to work with your local governments and service providers to ensure contract continuity in an EPR system.

Other Resources:

Guide to Oregon’s Recycling System Advisory Council