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!

In March 2022, Oregon DEQ released the report "Enhancing Community Engagement Using Q-Methodology".

Name: Jayme Perman

In what University/College are you currently enrolled, or if an Americorps Volunteer, where are you working/volunteering? Western Washington University 

Tell us about your major or current career path:  I am currently majoring in Polymer Materials engineering, formerly known as Plastics & Composites engineering

What is your name? Terence M. Shumaker

Where do you work and what do you do? Retired college instructor. Co-chair of West Linn Sustainability Advisory Board.

What is the name of your business or organization?  Mattress Recycling Council

What does your business/organization do? We are the stewardship organization that will bring mattress recycling throughout Oregon!

Tell us about your business/organization's recycling/sustainability practices. MRC is one of the largest mattress recycling organizations in the world. Since 2015, we have recycled over 10 million mattresses and box springs and look forward to implementing OR SB1576.

Submitted by Jonathan M. Rivin, Oregon DEQ

If you’ve ever attended a conference, you’ll know that promotional items (e.g., wearables, souvenirs, etc.) , sometimes branded, are ubiquitous. The intent of these freebies – colloquially termed SWAG (Stuff We All Get) – is to recognize sponsoring organizations and enhance attendee experience. Often, conference attendees are given a “gift bag” containing SWAG. While common for in-person gatherings, virtual conferences did not necessarily put a halt to this practice.

Oregonians have partnered with the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC) to raise more than $125,508 in donated bottles and cans over the last three weeks to support Ukrainians in crisis through Oregon’s Bottle Bill.

A total of $75,508 came from residents donating OR 10-cent bottles and cans, and the rest was matched by the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC). The funds will go to Mercy Corps’ relief efforts on the ground in Ukraine. 

What is the name of your business or organization? Oregon State University Materials Management

What does your business/organization do? Help OSU achieve its carbon reduction and broader sustainability goals by preventing, reusing and recycling while advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) throughout the work we do.

Rick had been a long-time AOR member and Board member and has just rejoined our ranks! Welcome back, Rick!

What is your name? Rick Paul

Where do you work and what do you do?  Retired, but volunteer board member of Rim Rock Recycling in Burns, Oregon

Tell us how you embrace recycling/sustainability into your home or workplace? I recycle whatever is possible in a distant recycling area. We have limited items for recycling.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything, including Americans’ waste disposal habits.

That was one of the big takeaways from two new Pacific Northwest garbage and recycling studies that were released recently. Both showed a serious uptick in the amount of trash people are generating and, in some cases, disposing of improperly.

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