The Dalles Becomes the First Oregon Community to Expand Recycling Service with Producer‑Funded Investment

Mar 24

Written By Columbia Community Connection

From The Dalles Disposal:

By Heather Bucher

The Dalles, Ore., March 24, 2026 — The Dalles Disposal, in partnership with Circular Action Alliance (CAA) Oregon, announced expanded curbside recycling service for the City of The Dalles, launching March 30, 2026. The Dalles is the first Oregon community to expand curbside recycling access using producer funding available through the state’s Recycling Modernization Act (RMA).

Beginning today, nearly 5,000 new 90-gallon recycling carts will be delivered to customers by The Dalles Disposal. The carts are about six times larger than the previous curbside recycling bins, providing more room for the expanded list of recyclables that took effect in August 2025.

The service expansion is supported by Oregon’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for paper and packaging, which requires brands and companies that supply packaging and paper products to help fund improvements to the state’s recycling system. CAA, the nonprofit Producer Responsibility Organization selected by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to implement the program, provided more than $200,000 to The Dalles Disposal to purchase the new recycling carts.

“This is a milestone moment for our community,” said Jim Winterbottom, District Manager of The Dalles Disposal. “With producer funding through the CAA, we can expand recycling options while continuing to deliver high-quality service, making it easier for residents to participate.”

CAA Oregon Executive Director Kim Holmes added, “The Dalles is leading the way in recycling modernization at the community level. This launch shows how Oregon’s EPR program is delivering real, on-the-ground improvements for communities and helping build a more consistent, accessible recycling system statewide.”

Residents will receive information directly from The Dalles Disposal about what’s changing and how to recycle correctly. For additional recycling guidance, residents can visit RecycleOn.org/Oregon.

Items Accepted in the Recycling Cart

Community members can place the following empty and dry items in the new recycling carts:

Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, buckets, and rigid nursery pots (2 inches by 2 inches or larger). Caps are OK if screwed on.
Flattened cardboard, packaging boxes, food and beverage cartons, and pizza boxes free of food.
Paper, including newspapers, magazines, office paper, mail, paper bags, egg cartons, paperback books, and non-metallic gift wrap.
Metal cans and small scrap metal (less than 10 pounds and 18 inches).

About The Dalles Disposal

The Dalles Disposal provides waste management services to residents and businesses in Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties in Oregon. For more than 20 years, the company’s drivers have serviced residential carts, commercial rear-load dumpsters, and drop box containers.

About Circular Action Alliance

Circular Action Alliance (CAA) is a U.S. Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) dedicated to implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws for paper and packaging. As a nonprofit, producer-led organization, CAA helps producers comply with EPR laws, delivers best-in-class compliance services, and works with governments, businesses, and communities to reduce waste and recycle more. Founded in 2022, CAA is guided by producers representing the food, beverage, consumer goods, restaurant, and retail industries.

CAA is approved to implement EPR laws for paper and packaging and serves as the single PRO in California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington.