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Plastic recycling options disappear

Recent changes to global recycling markets are affecting U.S. recycling programs, with significant impacts in Oregon. This disruption is due to an announcement from China that starting in 2018, they will no longer accept certain materials, such as plastic “clamshells” and plastic bags, shipped from the U.S. for recycling. Until recently, China has been the world’s largest importer of recycled paper and plastics.

Changes you should know about:

Far West Recycling is no longer accepting plastics, except #1 and #2 bottles, at its public recycling depots (more info)

Far West Recycling public recycling depots are now charging $5 per car to accept drop-off recycling

Aloha Garbage Company will be closing its public recycling depot effective December 1, 2017

New Seasons Market is no longer accepting public recycling, including plastic bags and clamshells

There have been no changes to mixed recycling collected at the curb at this time. Please remember that plastic grocery bags, plastic film, and plastic “clamshells” are not accepted in your mixed recycling container. For a refresher on what is accepted in your mixed recycling container, download our Waste Prevention and Recycling Guide.

What you can do:

If you were collecting and dropping off plastic grocery bags and plastic film, use our What to Recycle and Where tool to find drop-off locations that are still accepting them

If you were collecting and dropping off “non-curbside” plastics like clamshells and plastic lids, please place them in the garbage for now.

Try reducing or avoiding waste as much as possible. Use durable items instead of disposable ones, such as grocery bags and dishware.

Check Oregon DEQ’s website, which will provide updates about the situation and how it might affect recycling in our state.

Download the Garbage and Recycling Day app on either the Apple App Store or Google Play. The Garbage and Recycling Day app will have our most up-to-date information on where items can be recycled and any potential changes to the recycling system due to the disruptions.

Solid Waste & Recycling provides recycling information and resources to residents and businesses in all of the cities within the county, except the City of Beaverton, which operates its own program. Solid Waste & Recycling's technical support and education are provided under agreements with Metro, the regional planning agency for solid waste management, and the 10 participating cities.

We wonder why our regional agency Metro hasn’t been more active in supporting local options for dealing with plastic waste. Greg Malinowski, Washington County Commissioner, explains that the offer seemed good a few years ago, when the Chinese offered to take our plastic waste on the empty barges returning from delivering Chinese-made good to the US. He says, “We need to find local recyclers who can find a good use for this stuff, rather than ship it halfway across the world.”

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