ASHLAND, Ore. — Circular Action Alliance opened Oregon’s first RecycleOn Oregon drop-off center in Ashland Wednesday morning, the first of its kind in both the state and the nation. More than 140 more locations are set to open across the state. 

The new recycling site offers free drop-off collection for packaging that is not currently accepted in home or business recycling bins. This includes stretchy plastics, plastic lids, plastic package handles, plastic buckets and pails, shredded paper and aluminum foil. These items currently require special collection due to the regular issues of contaminating other materials and getting tangled in machinery. 

Located at 220 Water Street, Ashland’s new site will collect these items, making recycling easier, more consistent and more effective. The new center is a part of the state’s new recycling program, which launched on July 1. 

The site is funded by the brands and companies that make packaging and paper products, meaning costs do not fall directly onto consumers and government. Oregon is the first of several states to not rely solely on local governments and customers to cover the cost of recycling. 

More details about recycling in Oregon can be found here.Â