The Driving Diversity training program is an innovative initiative designed to increase the diversity among the ranks of Washington County garbage and recycling drivers, and to open the door for participants to step into living-wage careers.

EPA’s Recycling Infrastructure and Market Opportunities Map, which was released on April 21, 2023, is now open for public comment through June 26, 2023.

Summary

Rulemaking must be conducted to clarify and implement the Mattress Stewardship Act of 2022 (SB1576). The Act requires mattress producers to join a stewardship organization with an approved plan to develop, implement and administer a statewide program for the financing, collection and environmentally sound management of discarded mattresses in the state of Oregon. This rulemaking is necessary to ensure successful implementation of the Act, including establishment of an annual fee to cover DEQ's costs to administer, implement and enforce the 2022 Act.

The Carton Council recently announced their 2023 Community Education Award program to incentivize and improve recycling education in communities across the U.S. Any entity which is responsible for educating its residents about their local recycling program is eligible if food and beverage cartons are included in their program.

On December 16, 2022, the U.S.

Fiji has become the first nation in the Pacific to formally acknowledge “waste pickers” — who repurpose, resell, and recycle rubbish for a living — as the environmental champions that they are, and the positive environmental benefit of their work. 

Read the full article at Global Citizen.

 As a company built on eco-minded values, Trex Co., Winchester, Virginia, a leading manufacturer of high-performance, wood-alternative decking and railing, is enlisting communities and organizations to partner in its recycling efforts.

The recently launched NexTrex Grassroots Movement provides a turnkey framework for municipalities, universities, nonprofits and other qualifying businesses to serve as centralized drop-off locations for recycling polyethylene plastic film while earning funds for their organizations.

California lawmakers passed a pair of bills, Senate Bill 1215 and Assembly Bill 2440, to create a statewide collection and recycling program for consumer batteries and products that contain batteries.

As of July 1, nine franchised haulers operating Washington County, eight of which operate in unincorporated Washington County, have started offering Recycle+, a new optional collection service for collection curbside not accepted in standard recycling. Below is a list of materials accepted. Visit the Recycle+ site to sign up and learn more about the program!