Hermiston City Council to Discuss Curbside Recycling Implementation

The Hermiston City Council will hold a work session at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, to discuss the implementation of curbside recycling within the city.

This discussion comes in response to the Oregon Legislature’s Recycling Modernization Act (RMA), which mandates that cities with populations over 4,000, including Hermiston, offer curbside recycling by July 1, 2025. Hermiston, along with other Eastern Oregon cities such as Pendleton, Umatilla, and Boardman, are among the few that do not currently offer this service.

The RMA aims to shift the financial burden of recycling from end-users to producers through the establishment of Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs). Circular Action Alliance (CAA), based in Washington, D.C., has been designated by the State of Oregon as the sole PRO responsible for collecting fees from producers and distributing funds to local governments to cover the costs associated with recycling.

Key elements of the RMA include the creation of a statewide list of recyclable materials to reduce confusion and contamination and the formation of PROs to manage funding. Since the passage of the RMA, significant progress has been made at the state level, including the establishment of the recyclable materials list and the selection of CAA as the PRO.

In Spring 2023, the state conducted a preliminary “Needs Assessment” with local governments to identify the requirements for implementing curbside recycling. Hermiston City staff collaborated with Sanitary Disposal, Inc., and neighboring communities to complete this assessment. CAA is now reviewing these assessments and requires more detailed information to refine cost estimates and establish fees for producers.

Key points to be discussed during the work session include:

• The current status of the statewide list of recyclable materials
• CAA’s progress in staffing and planning with local governments
• The detailed information needed for the refined Needs Assessment
• The timeline for establishing producer fees and the availability of funds for local jurisdictions
• Potential options for Hermiston to meet the July 1, 2025, deadline, including borrowing funds for initial investments in recycling containers and trucks
• The challenges of determining end-markets for collected materials and planning for necessary infrastructure, such as regional reload facilities

The council will consider the complexities and financial implications of implementing curbside recycling to ensure compliance with the RMA while addressing the needs and concerns of the community.