​AOR's 2016 Alice Soderwall Reuse Award Winner just reached a remarkable landmark: through Cracked Pots' storefront ReClaim It! volunteers have rescued 300,000 pounds (or 150 tons) of materials from the local "dump" for creative reuse that were otherwise destined for the landfill. By weight, that's like saving 30 school buses, 5 baby blue whales, or 300,000 kittens!

Company's Tax Revenue Impact is $8.5 Million Annually

PR Newswire

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 6, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Republic Services of Oregon announced today the results of a study of its annual economic impact in the state. The study measures the direct and indirect economic impact of the Company's subsidiaries and operations statewide in 2016, including tax revenues, payroll expenditures and supplier purchases, as well as multiplier effects when income is reinvested into the local economy.

Despite ban on plant-based service-ware in their compost bins, local businesses continue to use them, stating they're still a better choice, even if they end up in the garbage.

Read more at the Corvallis Gazette Times.

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It’s that time of year again!

September is National Preparedness Month. FEMA has a wealth of information on their website to help get you and your communities prepared for when disaster strikes. Here in Oregon, AOR has teamed up with ORRA to present two case studies on being prepared for whatever emergency may arise.

An Office Case Study: City of Portland, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

This award was given to Delyn Kies in recognition of her many years as a leader in sustainable materials management in Oregon. Delyn helped draft the 1983 Oregon Recycling Opportunity Act, which required cities with populations over 4,000 to provide a minimum of monthly curbside recycling service to all garbage service customers.

In December, Oregon DEQ published a Reuse, Repair and Product Lifespan Extension Strategic Plan, which is available for download on the DEQ website. Many of you provided input to help develop that plan, which was much appreciated.

Release Date: Friday, July 14, 2017

David McCall was hired as Tillamook County’s solid waste director in 2012. Since then he has helped to launch many programs that have helped advanced sustainable materials management in Oregon.

These programs include: