Solid Waste

Oregon law establishes a hierarchy for the management of solid waste. The first objective is to prevent the generation of the waste. If that is not possible, reuse is the next best option, followed by recycling, composting, and energy recovery. Safe disposal is the last option, if none of the others is feasible.

• 2050 Vision for Materials Management in Oregon
• Conversion Technology Rulemaking
• Oregon Recycling Laws: A History
• Solid Waste News
  New developments and topics to keep tabs on in DEQ's Solid Waste Program.

Waste Prevention and Reuse

This category includes the hierarchy objectives "prevent," "reduce" and "reuse." Within this category you will find topics such as:

climate change (aka global warming) commercial waste reduction clearinghouse drinking water study grants green building household hazardous waste

mercury packaging paint product stewardship single-use bags and reusable bags waste prevention strategy

Waste Recovery and Composting

This category combines the hierarchy objectives of "recycle" and "compost," and includes topics such as:

composting electronics e-waste facility regulation Oregon E-Cycles grants household hazardous waste material recovery and waste generation 2011 Oregon Material Recovery and Waste Generation Rates Report mercury

Oregon Bottle Bill paint permits rigid plastic containers used oil waste tires

Disposal

This category, which incorporates "energy recovery" and "disposal" includes topics on:

active permitted facilities - including landfills beneficial use of solid waste disaster debris management local governments residents illegal dumping infectious waste

mercury permits pharmaceutical (household) waste disposal waste tires waste composition 2009/2010 Study

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