New Recycling law rolls out in Oregon; TD Council to hear about changes on July 14
Tim Lambert, 30, with The Dalles Disposal said he often prepares the recycling for the morning pickup where it is hauled to Portland and processed. New law creates a unified recycling list, statewide. The Dalles City Council will hear a presentation on the changes from Waste Connections’ Jim Winterbottom on Monday, July 14.
The Dalles, Ore., July 7, 2025 — A sweeping overhaul of Oregon’s recycling system, designed to make recycling more consistent and accessible across the state, will be the focus of a presentation at The Dalles City Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. on July 14.
Jim Winterbottom
Waste Connections District Manager Jim Winterbottom will present information to the council on how the new law will affect recycling in the state and locally here in The Dalles.
The changes come under the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (RMA), passed by the Legislature in 2021 and set to have its initial roll out in July 2025. The law requires producers of packaging, printing and writing paper, and food serviceware to share responsibility for the cost and management of recycling their products after use.
A key feature of the law is a Uniform Statewide Collection List, which ensures that all Oregon residents — regardless of where they live — can recycle the same set of materials.
Among the items that will be accepted statewide starting next year are: corrugated cardboard, kraft paper, molded pulp packaging (such as egg cartons), milk cartons, high-grade office paper, steel and aluminum cans, plastic bottles and tubs made of PET, HDPE or polypropylene, magazines, newspapers, and shredded paper.
Additional materials such as motor oil and large format scrap metal, which are not part of the RMA, will continue to be collected as normal and drop off provided at transfer stations.
The law also establishes Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) — non-profit groups funded by fees paid by producers of covered products. These organizations will reimburse local governments or their designated local service providers for collection and processing costs, fund some recycling education efforts, and help improve the state’s recycling system. PROs are responsible for ensuring that recyclable materials from their members’ products are collected, processed and marketed responsibly.
For The Dalles, a city of about 15,000, the law offers funding opportunities to expand recycling services and improve recycling rates. Local governments will continue to oversee recycling collection provided by their local service providers, but will now have additional financial support and uniform statewide standards to follow.
The presentation at Monday’s council meeting is expected to explain how the city will comply with the law, what residents can expect when the changes take effect, and how the program will help reduce contamination and make recycling easier.
