FPA Opposes SB 582 to Restructure Oregon’s Recycling System

SB 582 is a very costly plan to restructure Oregon’s recycling system and would require packaging, printing, and writing paper be recycled through new “producer responsibility organizations.” These new organizations would be responsible for paying for recycling these products, funding new litter prevention and clean-up programs, paying for facility improvements for multi-family housing recycling, upgrading recycling processing facilities, creating new recycling education programs, reimbursing local governments for some of their transportation costs, and operating new depots for the collection of recyclables. If passed, DEQ’s staff and its consultants estimate these new activities will add at least $100 million more per year to the cost of recycling in Oregon. We support the objective of increasing the recovery of all paper and packaging. However, this bill raises significant policy questions and implementation concerns.