A New Way to Recycle More in Lane County

Last Updated 9/28/2026 • Posted in Lifestyle, Home Page Featured Post, Health, Education

Recycling rules are not always easy to understand, especially when they always seem to be changing.

A big moment came in 2018, when recycling markets across the United States were disrupted after China, previously the world’s largest importer of recycled paper and plastics—implemented restrictions on many imported recyclables.

For many years after, accepted recyclables were limited until 2025, when the state enacted the Recycling Modernization Act (RMA). The law created a new system that shares responsibility of recycling costs among local governments, waste and recycling companies, and producers of packaging paper, and food serviceware.

At its core, the RMA is designed to make recycling more accessible, consistent, and transparent – helping create a system that is easier to use, more effective, and more trustworthy, regardless of where someone lives in Oregon.

A significant and innovative part of RMA is the new rollout of what’s known as RecycleOn Centers throughout the county.

Recycling Materials That Can’t Go in Your Home Recycling Cart

For those who know their recycling rules, what do the following materials have in common?

Plastic bags and stretchy plastic film
Plastic lids, caps, and beverage handles
Shredded paper

If you said they don’t belong in your home recycling cart, you’re correct. But now, thanks to Oregon’s new recycling system, these are the types of materials that can now be dropped off at RecycleOn Center collection points.

RecycleOn Centers have recently opened at BRING in Eugene and at Lane County Waste Management’s Florence, Veneta, and Glenwood Transfer Stations.

The centers provide residents with a free and convenient place to recycle materials that aren’t accepted in regular home recycling carts. For households looking to recycle more, RecycleOn Centers offer another way to keep valuable materials out of the landfill.

Most importantly, the centers provide a clear answer to a common recycling question: “If it doesn’t belong in my recycling cart, is there somewhere else I can take it?”

For a growing list of materials, the answer is now “yes.”

Residents can visit RecycleOn.org/OregonCenters to find their nearest center, download the full guide, check hours, and learn how to recycle with confidence.

Recycling Tip: Lose the bags!

Keep recyclables loose—never bagged. Bagged recyclables can’t be properly sorted at recycling facilities and may end up being treated as garbage.

Place recyclables loose, clean and empty in your mixed recycling bin
Redeem deposit beverage containers through Oregon’s Bottdrop program. Sign up for a Green Bag account at Bottledrop.com.
Want to give back? Donate your container deposits to participating nonprofits through BottleDrop Give.