Recycling in Oregon changed starting July 2025 with the roll-out of the Recycling Modernization Act. What does that mean for you? More items are accepted in the blue recycle cart: plastic tubs, plastic buckets, small scrap metal, food and beverage cartons and egg cartons. When everyone does their part, these changes should help keep more recyclable material out of our landfills and pollution out of our environment. Do you have tricky materials that you still aren’t sure where they go? Use the Interactive Waste Guide for detailed instructions on a wide array of materials.
Waste generation has been increasing for many years. Landfill space is limited, and new landfills are located farther away. This increases both costs and transportation emissions. Reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills can lower emissions and help reduce waste management costs.
The City of Salem is proposing a waste reduction policy to reduce waste disposed with progressive per capita goals based on a 2016 baseline…