SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): The City of Hermiston, the largest urban center in Eastern Oregon, is set to roll out a curbside recycling program next year as part of its compliance with Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act of 2021. The state law requires all cities with populations above 4,000 to provide curbside recycling services.

The 2021 Act standardized recyclable materials across Oregon and introduced packaging fees for specific products sold within the state to fund improved recycling systems.

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City officials announced that the Hermiston City Council will soon vote on a proposal to adopt recycling fees ahead of the program’s launch. City staff have recommended a monthly fee of $8, which will provide each household with a 95-gallon recycling cart for metal, cardboard, paper, and plastic waste. Sanitary Disposal Inc. will handle biweekly waste collection services.

Although Oregon cities were initially expected to implement curbside recycling by July 2025, the deadline was extended due to the complexity of establishing the state’s first standardized system. Hermiston officials noted that a final launch date will be determined once Sanitary Disposal Inc. acquires the necessary equipment and staffing to operate the program.