One Year In, Oregon’s New Recycling System Brings Better Recycling to over 36,000 households
From RecycleOn Oregon:
By Alex Bertolucci
The Dalles, Ore., Sept. 11, 2026 — One year after Oregon launched the nation’s first recycling system funded in part by companies that produce paper and packaging, more Oregonians have access to recycling than ever before.
Since launching in July 2025, RecycleOn Oregon has:
Expanded curbside recycling to communities that never had it before.
Opened 34 RecycleOn Centers across the state, giving residents convenient places to recycle items that don’t belong in curbside carts.
Funded more than 36,000 new recycling carts, 11 collection trucks, and approximately $30 million in upgrades to recycling sorting facilities.
Supported the collection and delivery of approximately 530 million pounds of materials to recycling sorting facilities across Oregon in its first year.
Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) selected Circular Action Alliance (CAA) Oregon to launch and administer the new system, following a first-of-its-kind law requiring companies that sell products in paper and other packaging to help pay for the recycling of those products.
“Five years ago, the Legislature created a new vision for recycling in Oregon. Today, we’re seeing that vision move from policy into progress,” said Kim Holmes, executive director of CAA Oregon. “There is still more work ahead, but this first year showcases real-world results and what’s possible when we invest in a better recycling system.”
More Communities, More Access
In Pendleton, residents and businesses now have curbside recycling for the first time, supported by approximately 6,300 new recycling carts and two new collection trucks. New curbside recycling service has also launched in Baker City, Boardman, Hermiston, Roseburg, Umatilla and The Dalles, with additional communities – including Cottage Grove, Winston, Coos Bay and Umatilla and Morrow counties – expected to launch or expand recycling service in the coming months.
“For many rural communities, recycling access has depended on whether the local infrastructure was available,” said Theresa Strandquist, recycling and educational outreach coordinator for Southern Oregon Sanitation. “These investments are helping bring new services and resources to communities that have wanted recycling options for years.”
Funding from the companies that make and sell paper and packaging is helping improve recycling systems while providing greater transparency into how recyclable materials are managed after they are collected.
These investments are part of a multi-year effort to make recycling more accessible and consistent statewide. By the end of 2027, the goal is for 95% of Oregonians to live within 15 miles of a RecycleOn Center. Oregon is also implementing a statewide list of accepted recyclable materials, making it easier for people and businesses to know what belongs in the recycling bin no matter where they live.
The first year of RecycleOn Oregon laid the foundation for a better recycling system in Oregon while delivering meaningful improvements for communities across the state. As the program continues to grow, residents can stay informed about new recycling services, RecycleOn Centers, and accepted materials in their communities at RecycleOn.org/Oregon.
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About Circular Action Alliance Oregon
Circular Action Alliance (CAA) is a U.S. Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) dedicated to implementing effective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws for paper and packaging. As a nonprofit, producer-led organization, CAA is committed to helping producers comply with EPR laws, delivering harmonized best-in-class compliance services, and working with governments, businesses , and communities to reduce waste and recycle more. CAA was founded in 2022 and is led by producers representing the food, beverage, consumer goods, foodservice and retail industries.
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