On July 29, 2024, DEQ sent Circular Action Alliance its decision regarding the first draft program plan that CAA submitted to DEQ on March 31, 2024. The decision letter was posted to the Recycling Modernization Act website. DEQ took feedback received from the Oregon Recycling System Advisory Council and from public comment into account when formulating its recommendations as indicated in the column, “Parties that submitted similar or related feedback,” in Appendix A of the decision letter.

As DEQ’s overall response to the first draft is a denial, CAA will now proceed to development of a second draft, due on or before September 27, 2024. Upon submission of the second draft, four conditionally-approved sections of the plan, if updated by CAA in alignment with the approval conditions, will be immediately approved. Fourteen other sections of the plan must, upon revision, undergo at least one more round of DEQ review, including ORSAC review and public comment. Overall plan approval is contingent upon DEQ’s approval of all sections.