History of Recycling

In 1993, Oregon Legislature amended ORS 459 to make curbside recycling opportunities mandatory to citizens in cities of 4,000 or more in population.

Initially, we used an 18 gallon red bin for customers to set out for collection.

The principle recycling list for that period of time is listed below:

• Cardboard
  
• Newspaper
  
• Clear, Green, Brown colors of bottle glass (now only recycled at the depot’s)
  
• Magazines
  
• Aluminum/Tim
  
• Junk Mail
  
• Used Motor Oil

In 2003, Thompson’s Sanitary Service requested an exception to the principle list by adding plastics #107 and excluding glass at the curbside, but offering glass recycling at three depot locations around the city (link to a map or the depot page).  We now have a fully automated and commingled recycling system.  And by making the recycling process easier for our customers, we have experienced more than double increase in volume of total tons collected at the curb.  And glass recovery has continued to increase using the three depot locations.

Commingle collection continues to be debated in our solid waste industry throughout government departments and collection companies around the state.  The concern stems from increase contamination in a commingle system.  While we have a very strong educational program to support clean recycling and fees that penalize customers for setting out contamination.  No one should argue that a 200% increase in recycling (link to the pdf graphs) which subsequently diverts refuse from the landfill is a success story.  Our contamination is regularly tested and studied and is usually around 3%.  That coupled with an increase volume of recycling staying out of the landfills, we feel the commingled system is clearly superior.  It’s easier for the customer and allows for automated collection, keeping the associated costs low, and our environment green.  Be the best recycler you can be and learn more about the do’s and dont’s of recycling (en espanol).

Click here to see our sorting facility.