2021 Oregon Legislative Session
Did you know that sharing your opinion counts as Master Recycler hours?
Annette Pronk (Class 64) Testifying before City Council
Share your excitement on an issue in your own community, write a letter to the editor, join a local advisory committee, or let your local officials and representatives know where you stand on policies.
Master Recyclers are a passionate and informed bunch.
You’ve done the deep dive on consumption, climate change, environmental justice, food, reuse, toxics, repair, compost, and recycling. You know firsthand where current systems and laws are lacking or even cause harm.
Your elected officials are in office for one reason: to represent you. They need and want to hear from you. Often, they only hear from lobbyists and are delighted to get a letter, phone call, or testimony from a passionate and informed resident from their district.
Now is an exciting time to flex your civic muscle. Oregon’s state legislature is considering an historic number of bills related to consumption, equity, recycling, reuse, toxics and repair. -And now with a virtual session it is easier than ever to provide live testimony.
Bills to explore
The Master Recycler Program is not endorsing these bills. In fact, various parts of the recycling/reuse community are hotly debating some of them.
This list will help you explore and decide for yourself what you think. We’ve also tried to include links for more information when possible.
The most comprehensive place to hear about the bills is the Video of the Association of Oregon Recyclers Legislative Preview Forum (The recording is free. You just have to register your name and email).
Modernizing Oregon’s Recycling Through Shared Responsibility HB 2065 *
Right to Repair HB 2698
Video Right to Repair Town Hall
Free Geek and OSPIRG Petition in Support of HB 2698
Ban Polystyrene Foam Foodware HB 2617 **
Single-use & Toxics Foodware Policy HB 2365 **
Truth in Recycling Labels HB 2815**
Limiting Chemical Recycling HB 2811 **
Stewardship for Plastic Packaging and Food Serviceware SB 14 * **
Expand Bottle Bill to Wine and Spirits SB 573 *
Establish a Bottle Bill Task Force Bill HB 2911 *
Stewardship for Household Hazardous Waste HB 2955 *
Stewardship for Mattresses SB 570 *
Stewardship for Carpentry *
Exploring Better Systems for Sharps Disposal SB 2618
* ‘Stewardship’ are laws where producers help pay for the environmental costs of their products.
** Environment Oregon promotes these 5 bills as ways to tackle plastic pollution.
