By the numbers: Oregon’s 1st year of packaging EPR

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Circular Action Alliance released its first annual report detailing implementation of Oregon’s packaging EPR program — the first live program of its kind in U.S. history.

The report covers just the first six months of the program, which kicked off July 1, 2025. CAA emphasized 2025 as a “build year,” as the producer responsibility organization intends for full system implementation by the end of 2027.

As CAA highlights the early impacts of EPR dollars, the future of the program is under fire from multiple angles. A trial is set to take place in Oregon next week as the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors argues the packaging EPR law is unconstitutional. Separately, manufacturer Lollicup USA recently launched a class action lawsuit against Department of Environmental Quality Director Leah Feldon.

These were some of the figures CAA revealed from the first six months of Oregon’s rollout.

Collecting covered materials

Glass collection — Courtesy of Circular Action Alliance

Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act aims to expand collection through increased curbside and depot access. For depot-based collection, CAA said the 2026 reporting year will serve as a baseline year for calculating utilization and collection rates.

Producers reported selling nearly 410,000 tons into Oregon

Tons of covered products, in thousands

By the numbers

144,771 tons

Total materials collected through commingled, depot and other applicable programs.

18,888 tons

Glass collected and recycled via curbside incentive program. CAA calculated a 49% implied collection rate, which would exceed the state’s target of 45% for glass.

24.73%

Overall contamination rate of sampled materials. This is based on 554 sample audits, most of which represented the Portland area, that began in September via the newly established Contamination Audit Center. The top contaminants included combined materials, fines, glass, polycoated paperboard and bagged garbage.

Responsible end markets

Oregon’s law emphasizes sending material to responsible end markets. Requirements aim to ensure materials are recycled in a transparent and trackable way that minimizes environmental and public health risks. CAA is working on timelines and documentation expectations to phase in Oregon’s REM requirements. Meanwhile, it’s also working on a global REM standard.

By the numbers

$56,486

Amount spent on responsible end market development and verification in 2025.

Number of self-attested end markets where MRFs and CAA Oregon sent material during the first six months of the program. That included 24 recyclers, 16 brokers and four disposal sites. A self-attested end market pledges that it adheres to the REM principles, the first step in becoming a REM.

95.97%

Percentage of materials delivered to the self-attested end markets during the first six months of the program.

Paying into the system

RecycleOn Center — Courtesy of Circular Action Alliance

Oregon’s packaging EPR program is the first that producers paid into in the United States. CAA said program costs in 2025 were lower than originally projected “due to implementation timelines — not reduced scope — with major investments scheduled to continue rolling out in 2026 and 2027 as contracting and procurement progress.”

By the numbers

2,909

Number of participating producers.

$167.9 million

Revenue generated from producer fees.

$56.5 million

Actual program expenditures during the period, inclusive of startup costs.

$111.4 million

Accumulated reserves following the period.

Investing in recycling

blue plastic bottles crushed together — Courtesy of Circular Action Alliance

Where are funds being reinvested? From 2025, outlays included new collection tools and recycling centers.

CAA has built on that in 2026; The Dalles is one Oregon community that has received larger carts to recycle an expanded list of materials. Elsewhere, CAA has funded new trucks, which are meant to help support recycling service expansions as residents begin to recycle more kinds of materials.

Looking ahead, CAA aims for there to be 144 recycling centers by the end of 2027 to provide convenient drop-off locations for “tricky-to-sort materials” that can’t go in curbside recycling but can still be recycled in the state. That includes items such as plastic bags, lids, plastic buckets, shredded paper and foil.

By the numbers

Number of RecycleOn centers as of December 2025.

42,297

Number of recycling containers ordered.

Number of trucks ordered.

$16.2 million

Amount CAA distributed to eight MRFs in processor commodity risk fees. That money is meant to support MRF investments in equipment and infrastructure, and it is supposed to help MRFs weather changes in commodity values.

$6.3 million

Amount CAA paid for contamination reduction programming expenses. Local governments are eligible for up to $3 per capita per fiscal year to work on programs meant to reduce recycling contamination.

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