Shredded paper, egg cartons and most plastic containers now are bound for the trash in Marion County, which includes the state capital, Salem, the Seattle Times reports.

AOR-member Agilyx will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of their Tigard, Oregon polystyrene-to-styrene oil plant on April 19, 2018 at 10am. The ribbon-cutting will launch a week of celebrations, including plant tours by invitation from April 24-26, 2018. The plant is the first commercial-scale closed-loop chemical recycling process for polystyrene in the world.

Oregon State University's Materials Management Department, which combines the Campus Recycling and Surplus Property offices, has recently implemented some new programs to reduce waste and increase sustainability.

In response to China's recent policies restricting the amount of contamination in recyclables it accepts, Coos County has reduced its contamination in its recycling by 85 percent in just two months.

Portland Tribune reports that Wilsonvillle's SORT Bioenergy, believes it was denied due process by Metro in its consideration of the region's upcoming food scraps recycling contract.

Metro approved final administrative rules, effective March 1, 2018, to guide the licensing and inspection of facilities that receive source-separated recyclable materials as well as some facilities that convert waste to energy or fuel.

Read more at Metro

Thanks to a grant from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the great folks at BRING in Eugene, OR, have spent the past twelve months asking their stakeholders what they appreciate about BRING and how to expand their many programs and are charting an exciting new course. 

The Mosier, Oregon, company collects used bike chains from bike shops throughout the western US.

Simply put old chains in a box and call or email with the weight when the box is full (20-50 pounds is ideal).

They will send UPS to pick up the box the next day.

Resource Revival recycles tons of used bike chain every year, upcycling them into everything from keychains to picture frames to medals for bike rides and races.

Beaverton’s Sustainability & Recycling Programs welcome Caitlin Ahearn as our new Recycling Specialist.  She fills the position formerly held by Elizabeth Cole (who is now our Recycling and Waste Prevention Coordinator).

Caitlin previously worked at Washington County and the City of Gresham (through the Confluence AmeriCorps program), Oregon DEQ, and Portland Community College.

Starting April 2nd, PDX travelers will be able to dine on real dishes and silverware in the food cart area of the Oregon Market. 

The new durable dishware is part of a three-month pilot project made possible by a grant from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.