Created by the EPA, taken from their Sustainable Materials Management page.
Willamette Valley, Oregon
Senate Bill 582, enacted as Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act, is facing ongoing federal legal challenges as the state’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs roll out.
“In Oregon, a federal judge granted a narrow preliminary injunction in February blocking enforcement of SB 582 against members of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, while dismissing the bulk of the broader challenge. A five-day trial is scheduled to begin July 13. “
EPR deadlines approach as lawsuits loom – June 2026
More businesses demand pause on Oregon’s new recycling fees, following court decision – Feb 2026
Oregon legislation revamps recycling in multiple ways – June 2021
Oregon’s recycling system is getting an update. Packaging makers will help pay for it – Aug 2021
What is in our waste streams?
Marion County 2023 Waste Composition Study
Unit-based Pricing or Pay-as-you-throw
Unit-based pricing—also known as Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT)—effectively reduces municipal solid waste by an average of 15% to 45%. By charging households per bag, bin, or weight of trash, it creates a direct financial incentive to minimize waste, increase recycling, and compost.
How It Drives Reduction
- Consumer Behavior: Residents change purchasing habits to bring home less packaging and buy only what they need, which prevents waste before it is even generated.
- Increased Diversion: Disposal fees encourage active participation in municipal recycling and organics programs to avoid paying for mixed trash.
- Cost Equity: It establishes a “fair” system where residents pay only for the exact services they use, rather than a flat fee embedded in property taxes
Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act
Oregon Senate Bill 582 (2021) uses Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to shift recycling costs from taxpayers to the corporations that produce packaging. The science behind it targets the full life cycle of plastics to minimize environmental and social harm.
The Science & Mechanics Behind the Policy
- Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs): The legislation requires large producers to conduct verified LCAs, evaluating the environmental impacts of their packaging from raw material extraction to manufacturing, distribution, and end-of-life. This evidence-based framework ensures that fees are scaled to incentivize sustainable, low-carbon packaging design.
- Material Recovery Facility (MRF) Certification: The law mandates strict performance standards for the facilities that sort recyclables. This guarantees that sorted materials are responsibly recycled rather than ending up in landfills or polluting marine ecosystems.
- Truth in Labeling: The bill combats misleading “chasing arrows” symbols, which scientifically denote the type of resin (resin identification code) rather than actual, localized recyclability. A statewide task force was used to develop a standard labeling system to eliminate consumer contamination.
- Circular Economy Design: The law shares financial obligations between producers and ratepayers. By establishing a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), fees collected from brands fund infrastructure upgrades and programs dedicated to waste prevention and reuse.
Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act
Passed in 2021 as the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act, Senate Bill 582 is landmark Oregon legislation. It established the nation’s first statewide Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, requiring manufacturers of packaging, paper, and food serviceware to fund and improve the state’s recycling and waste reduction infrastructure.