Benton County officials outline what Oregon—s Recycling Modernization Act will add to curbside recycling starting July 1

Bailey Payne, Benton County solid waste program coordinator, and Kenny Larson, municipal administrator and recycling education coordinator for Republic Services in Western Oregon, reviewed the state—s Recycling Modernization Act and how it will change local recycling collection and depot services.

The program will add specified packaging items to the statewide curbside list beginning July 1 and phase in additional depot-accepted materials later, speakers said. "On average, each Benton County resident recycles or composts 2.1 pounds per person per day," Payne said, and currently residents throw away about 4.6 pounds per person per day. He said Oregon—s overall recovery rate had fallen to 31.5 percent and the state is targeting higher recovery rates.

Why it matters: the RMA establishes an extended-producer-responsibility framework, shifting part of the cost and administration of recycling to product manufacturers and a state-selected administrator. County staff said the law aims to standardize what is recyclable across all Oregon jurisdictions, improve domestic markets for…