HERMISTON, Ore.-The Hermiston City Council approved the rate for curbside recycling, a service expected to start in 2026, at its regular meeting on November 24.
The Council approved a standard monthly rate of $8, with a low-income rate of $6.80 per month available to qualifying households.
The qualifications for the reduced rate match Hermiston’s existing utility assistance program.
When combined with other utility subsidies already available to qualifying households, total assistance per household would be about $518 per year, according to the City.
The State Legislature passed Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act in 2021, which requires curbside recycling for cities with populations over 4,000, beginning in 2026.
The official start of curbside recycling in Hermiston is dependent on the arrival of new trucks, carts for customers and the availability of drivers. The program is expected to start sometime in 2026, and customers will not be billed until recycling service starts.
Manufacturers will help fund a portion of Oregon’s statewide curbside recycling program, but some operational costs remain local responsibilities.
According to the City of Hermiston, those responsibilities include staffing for collection trucks, fuel, maintenance, storage, insurance, and billing administration.
The City Council also reviewed information and discussed whether it could decline to implement curbside recycling and instead pay state fines at its meeting.
City of Hermiston staff consulted with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and determined that the minimum penalty for non-compliance with the curbside recycling program would be at least $183,000 per year.
According to the City, penalties could go up to $9.1215 million per year if Hermiston does not attempt to follow state law.
The City of Hermiston will provide more information on curbside recycling and how it will work as details and a start date are determined.
Im going to submit a low income form