Recycling Modernization Act Information Session

Nicole Portley and Cathy Brown of Oregon DEQ will explain how the Recycling Modernization Act is bringing producer funding together with regulatory solutions to systemic problems in Oregon’s recycling system. In addition to a broad overview of the Act, the presentation will cover Oregon’s new, statewide recycling acceptance lists and what residents of Lane County can expect to see going forward. Speaker Bios: Nicole Portley is the Program Plan Lead for the Recycling Modernization Act at Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Prior to joining DEQ in 2022, Nicole spent 17 years in the non-profit sector focused on industry behavior change. She worked with colleagues in Vietnam and China to pursue policies to curb plastic pollution while directing Pacific Environment’s marine program in 2016-2022. Prior to that, she managed a salmon conservation program in the Russian Far East for Wild Salmon Center and leveraged sustainability improvements in salmon and shrimp fisheries through the seafood supply chain for the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership. Cathy Brown (she/her) is a Regional Materials Management Specialist based in Eugene. She oversees recycling, waste prevention, grant administration, household hazardous waste, and solid waste complaints in Southwest Oregon counties, including Lane. Cathy has been working with local governments and service providers on implementation of RMA and is currently overseeing the Demolition to Design grant project with BRING Recycling. She has worked at DEQ for 21 years, seven of those with the Materials Management Program, and has been a Lane County Master Recycler since 2012. This free information session will be hosted in BRIN's Garden of Earthly Delights.