TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Solid Waste Committee
SUBJECT:
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Amending Council Policy C-25, Solid Waste Management, adopting recycling contamination goals consistent with statewide goals established by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Natural Environment Stewardship.
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SUMMARY:
summary
Oregon State law requires local governments subject to Opportunity to Recycle requirements to establish and implement a program to reduce contamination that includes one or more local recycling contamination reduction goals that are consistent with the statewide goals established by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). To help fulfill this requirement, on October 16, 2025, the Solid Waste Committee approved a motion to forward and recommend that City Council amend City Council Policy C-25 Solid Waste Management and adopt recycling contamination goals consistent with statewide goals established by DEQ:
• Goal #1: Zero high-risk contaminants
• Goal #2: 10% overall contamination
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council adopt Resolution No. 2025-27, amending City Council Policy C-25 Solid Waste Management to adopt recycling contamination goals consistent with statewide goals established by DEQ?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-27, amending City Council Policy C-25 Solid Waste Management to adopt recycling contamination goals consistent with statewide goals established by DEQ.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Through research and interviews with entities that handle and sort commingled recycling, DEQ identified two important aspects related to contamination. While contamination impacts the economic viability, health and safety of industry workers and environmental benefits of recycling, it may not be cost-effective or necessary to eliminate all inbound contamination. However, some types of contaminants, while constituting a very small percentage of collected material, can cause major problems for workers and facilities. To emphasize the importance of eliminating risk from dangerous contaminants, DEQ has established two distinct aspirational statewide contamination reduction goals. When developing contamination reduction programs, local governments must include contamination reduction goals that are consistent with both statewide goals.
The following goals adopted by DEQ are added to Council Policy C-25 as displayed in Resolution No. 2025-27 Exhibit A (see gray-highlighted section, titled Recycling Contamination).
Goal #1: Zero high-risk contaminants
High-risk materials in the commingled recycling, such as sharps, non-empty pressurized gas cylinders, batteries and explosives, pose a significant risk to staff, equipment and facilities. Due to the health and safety risk, the goal for these materials should be zero and is akin to having a goal of zero injuries or incidents. Research conducted for DEQ identified the following high-risk contaminants:
• Syringes and sharps
• Red bags and medical waste
• Human and animal waste
• Batteries and products with embedded batteries
• Fluorescent lights, mercury thermometers and other items that contain mercury
• Weapons and sharp tools
• Explosives
• Non-empty pressurized gas cylinders
• Non-empty aerosol containers with “Danger” on label
Goal #2: 10% overall contamination
Although contamination comes with challenges and increases the cost of recycling program operations, commingled recycling processing facilities are designed to handle some level of contamination. An overall goal of zero contamination for non-high-risk materials is unrealistic. Given Oregon’s current contamination rate of 15.5%, a 10% overall contamination goal is an achievable and realistic goal that balances cost and feasibility. As full implementation of contamination reduction efforts will take time, DEQ is setting incremental goals toward achieving the 10% goal as follows:
• 12.5% contamination by 2030
• 10% contamination by 2033
The action plan for reducing contamination is presently being considered. Salem is working with Marion County, the haulers and other cities in the county to adopt a Marion county-wide plan.
BACKGROUND:
One of the aims of Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (RMA) is to reduce contamination in recycling material collected. In addition to requiring improved sorting at recycling processing facilities, the RMA requires the producer responsibility organization to fund local governments and their service providers (no more than $3/capita, based on population) in their efforts to reduce contamination from entering the commingled recycling stream.
RYAN ZINK
FRANCHISE ADMINISTRATOR
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2025-27
2. Resolution No. 2025-27, Exhibit A