The Association of Oregon Recyclers has been a continuous advocate for Oregon's Bottle Bill. In the 2011 legislative session, AOR worked side by side with many organizations to help modernize the state's redemption law with three goals in mind. 

Product Stewardship Institute Launches Toolkit to Facilitate National Phone Book Opt-Out Campaign

Approximately $1.2 million in grant funding will soon be available to projects supporting local solid and household hazardous waste planning, prevention and recovery.

The grants will be available through the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s 2016 Materials Management program grant round. Last year, the program awarded nearly $600,000 to fifteen projects proposed by local governments.

In 2011 the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 3145, which requires that if, beginning in 2014, the redemption rate of Oregon Bottle Bill containers falls below 80% for two consecutive years, the 5 cent deposit shall increase to 10 cents.

Today, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) reported a rate below 80% for 2014 and 2015 and scheduled an increase in the deposit to 10 cents effective April 1st, 2017.

This award was given to Cloudburst Recycling in recognition of their many years as a leader in recycling in Portland. David and Michela McMahon started a curbside collection program in 1975. They were among the first in the nation to do so. After 17 years of operation and political activism, the City of Portland adopted a citywide recycling program in 1992.

In the 20+ years since its installation, the Portland community connected with the Portland International Airport (PDX) carpet and viewed it as a symbol of Portland. In 2015, the Port of Portland began a project to remove and replace 13 acres of carpet throughout the airport.

In 2015, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) refurbished their offices and needed to replace all of their cubicles. Kevin Kertzman, BPA’s Property Disposal Officer, faced the task of disposing of them. The easiest choice would have been the landfill as the items had little resale value, and the scrap market would reclaim only the metallic waste (leaving wood, fabric, and other synthetic components).

Founded in 2006, the Urban Gleaners mission is to help alleviate hunger by collecting edible surplus food from grocery stores, farmers markets, farms, event sites, and restaurants that would otherwise be thrown away. They redistribute food to agencies that feed the hungry. Food is also distributed through their Food to Schools program in East Multnomah County, where 75-95% of elementary school children live below the poverty line.

Mt. Hood Meadows has become a nationwide leader in their industry in the area of recycling. They go above and beyond the standard recycling efforts to include nearly all materials that are recyclable in Oregon. Some of the materials they collect (beyond curbside recyclables) include: film plastics, rigid plastics, rubber, metals, electronics, Styrofoam, packing materials, and more!