Oregon Launches Nation’s First Packaging EPR Program
Oregon made history on July 1 by officially launching the first packaging EPR program in the United States. Following the passage of the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (commonly referred to as RMA) in 2021 and after four years of rulemaking, planning, and partnership-building, producers are now legally responsible for funding and managing recycling for packaging and paper products sold in the state. The launch marks a significant shift in how recycling systems are financed and structured in Oregon —engaging producers to ensure that the state’s recycling system works well.
The program development has involved major collaboration between the Oregon DEQ, Circular Action Alliance (the approved Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO)), service providers, local governments, end markets, the public, and others. The implementation of RMA has been referred to as “a dial, not a switch” with July 1 marking the beginning of the program’s launch. There are still parts that need to be figured out such as the provision calling for verification that recycled materials are sent to responsible end markets. While the road ahead includes key implementation milestones, Oregon’s strong regulatory framework and stakeholder engagement have laid a clear path forward.
Respond to the LightRecycle WA Annual Survey by July 22, 2025
The Washington Department of Ecology is seeking input from residents, businesses and local governments to evaluate their satisfaction with the LightRecycle Washington program. Take the survey in English here and in Spanish here – the deadline is July 22, 2025.
The LightRecycle Washington program was launched in 2015 and allows residents and businesses to recycle unlimited screw-base compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), up to 15 pin-based or linear fluorescent lamps, and up to 2 high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps per day for free, by dropping them off at the almost 200 authorized collection sites throughout the State. Find a collection site in Washington here.
The program has ensured that millions of used mercury-containing lights are managed responsibly and reduced the harm to human health and the environment. The sales of fluorescent lights are declining as LED lights are now more energy-efficient and less toxic. As the program is financed by an environmental handling charge on the sale of new lights paid by consumers, the program’s financing model was not sustainable. The program was due to sunset this month on July 1, 2025, but last year the NWPSC worked with others on HB 1185, which extends the program to December 31, 2035. HB 1185 also bans the sale of mercury-containing lamps effective January 1, 2029. Legacy producers will be required to fund the program to collect and manage the mercury-containing lights that are already installed, when they reach their end of life.
Help Shape Washington’s Litter Tax Update
Washington’s litter tax has not been updated since it was established in 1971. The tax applies to manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of commonly littered products. Today, nearly half of the litter that accumulates in Washington every year comes from items not covered by the litter tax, like construction debris and vehicle-related materials.
Ecology will be hosting two virtual listening sessions:
- Session 1 on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 11:30 AM – 1:00PM: General Information (Open to the public). Register here for Session 1.
- Session 2 on Thursday, July 24, 2025, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Overburdened Communities (Prioritizing input from overburdened and vulnerable communities). Register here for Session 2.
During these sessions, Ecology will provide an overview of the proposal, answer questions, and gather feedback. Ecology is proposing changes to the state’s Litter Prevention and Clean-up Funding. You may submit written comments online through August 8, 2025 here.
Two NWPSC Members inducted to the WSRA Recycling Hall of Fame!
Janine Bogar, Environmental Planner and Policy Specialist, and Megan Warfield, Product Stewardship Unit Supervisor, both at Washington State Department of Ecology were celebrated at the 2025 WSRA Conference for their outstanding, long-term contributions to recycling in Washington State. Both have been active members of the NWPSC for many years providing valuable technical assistance.
- Janine has worked on waste reduction and recycling since 1995, in both local and state government. After 10 years working at Thurston County, overseeing drop-box recycling programs, training master recyclers, doing school presentations and newsletters, managing an earth-friendly demonstration garden created on a closed landfill, and piloting the building materials reuse center at the transfer station, she became the sustainability coordinator at the WA Department of Corrections where she helped prisons recycle, compost, and build green, including helping achieve LEED silver on a new building at the WA State Penitentiary. In 2008 she joined the Washington State Department of Ecology as the state’s Beyond Waste Plan lead. At Ecology she has written three state plan updates, worked on legislation and numerous waste reduction and recycling policy proposals, and led studies to identify more sustainable solid waste funding mechanisms. Janine will be retiring in August. We thank her for her years of service and in particular all her efforts working on the Recycling Reform Act.
- Megan has been a lead in recycling, product stewardship, and litter prevention in Ecology’s Solid Waste Management Program for 30 years. She originally came to Ecology originally as the statewide litter coordinator leading the effort for a long overdue Litter Prevention Campaign. Later, she became the statewide moderate risk waste (MRW) coordinator, facilitating annual MRW Coordinator meetings with county partners, revising MRW facility regulations, and sleuthing how to properly manage a variety of unique hazardous materials. The past few years Megan has overseen Ecology’s Product Stewardship Unit where E-Cycle, LightRecycle, PaintCare, Solar Panel, and, soon Battery Stewardship, reside. Megan’s technical knowledge and expertise formed many of Washington state’s EPR policies and programs.
[The recognitions and profiles have been sourced from WSRA]
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