Materials Management Newsletter | August 2024

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DEQ Receives Nearly $200 Million in Funding from the Federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grant

On July 22, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the State of Oregon will receive $197 million from the federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program.

In March, DEQ submitted an application to EPA requesting funds to support 12 measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, buildings and waste materials identified in Oregon’s Priority Climate Action Plan. DEQ, along with Governor Tina Kotek and EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller, announced at a press conference last week that EPA awarded Oregon 100% of the requested funds.

Here are just a few of the outcomes of this funding described in DEQ’s grant application: 

• 4,403 EV rebates for lower-income households. 
• 57 grants to support medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles and infrastructure. 
• 9,420 incentives to construct new, affordable, energy efficient multi- and single-family units. 
• 12,000 heat pump incentives in communities and rental homes. 
• 940 projects to reuse existing buildings for housing and develop space-efficient housing. 
• 22-26 projects to improve food waste recovery infrastructure and fund smaller-scale infrastructure projects. 
• Up to six projects to reduce methane emissions from landfills by installing gas collection systems or other technologies.

The Materials Management Program will implement measures related to waste and materials, including reusing existing buildings, developing space-efficient housing, improving food waste recovery infrastructure and increasing capture of methane emissions from landfills. Stay tuned to DEQ’s CPRG web page and this newsletter for more information as it becomes available.

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Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine Grants Program: Pre-Application Round Complete 

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DEQ Approves Mattress Recycling Council Program Plan for Mattress Stewardship Program

As of July 25, 2024, the Department of Environmental Quality has approved a program plan from the Mattress Recycling Council for Oregon’s new mattress stewardship program. The approval letter and approved program plan can be found on the DEQ’s program web page. MRC now has seven months from this date to implement the requirements of the Act and the approved program plan. Once the program is up and running, there will be at least one collection site or event in every county, specifically for collection and recycling of used mattresses. For more information about the new mattress stewardship program, visit our website.

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Oregon E-Cycles Program Update

DEQ recently completed the last of its advisory committee meetings as part of the rulemaking process for modernizing the Oregon E-Cycles Program. HB 3220 passed in 2023 bringing updates to Oregon’s electronics recycling program which first began in 2010. The next step in rulemaking process is to publish draft rules for public comment later this summer. To stay informed on the E-Cycles rulemaking process, visit our web page or sign up for GovDelivery email alerts.

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DEQ Response to Circular Action Alliance Program Plan Now Available Online

On July 29, 2024, DEQ sent Circular Action Alliance its decision regarding the first draft program plan that CAA submitted to DEQ on March 31, 2024. The decision letter was posted to the Recycling Modernization Act website. DEQ took feedback received from the Oregon Recycling System Advisory Council and from public comment into account when formulating its recommendations as indicated in the column, “Parties that submitted similar or related feedback,” in Appendix A of the decision letter.

As DEQ’s overall response to the first draft is a denial, CAA will now proceed to development of a second draft, due on or before September 27, 2024.  

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Meet the OASE 2024 Summer Interns!

Since 2017, DEQ has administered the Oregon Applied Sustainability Experience (OASE) internship program with the Oregon Sea Grant. College and graduate students are paired with host businesses to conduct research and deliver innovative pollution prevention recommendations. Numerous sectors are represented by host businesses including metal finishing, aerospace and food and beverage. This year, we have placed ten interns with host businesses to conduct pollution prevention research.

Oregon Coast Aquarium hosting Bri DeLeon. Bri is passionate about environmental protection and global politics and is majoring in environmental studies and international affairs. This summer, she will be researching ways to reduce single use plastics at the aquarium.	BRING and Oregon Coast Visitors Association hosting Jamie McMurray. Jamie is interested in business and environmental sustainability which will match well with her internship researching how to reduce marine debris pollution in the hospitality industry.
Chapul Farms hosting Emily LaBarge. Emily is studying environmental science at Portland State University. Emily will be focusing on food waste in Chapul Farm’s insect farm and liaising with local industrial food processors.	EverFresh hosting Wendy Sangucho Loachamin. Wendy is interested in life cycle assessment, pollution prevention, and sustainable production. She will do research on how to reduce waste generation, energy and water consumption, and identifying priority areas for improvement.
Gerber/Fiskars hosting Jillian Thompson. One of Jillian’s goals is to influence people and promote sustainability by understanding business perspectives to implement feasible initiatives. Her internship at Gerber/Fiskars includes ways to reduce waste and turn waste into energy.	High Desert Food and Farm Alliance hosting Katherine Dollar. Katherine is a horticulture and sustainability major at Oregon State University studying sustainable food systems. She will be spending her summer doing research on food waste and energy efficient refrigeration.
LAIKA Studios hosting Allie Tissot. Allie is completing her PhD in environmental science and management with a goal of starting a consulting agency to work with companies to reduce contaminant use. This summer, Allie will do research on energy usage and waste audits at the animation studio.	Pacific Seafood hosting Hanna Wroe. Hanna is studying ecological engineering with a passion for restoring aquatic ecosystems. She will spend the summer doing research on how to reduce marine debris from polypropylene rope used in Pacific Seafoods oyster farming
Pacific Seafood hosting Cate Stone. Cate is an environmental systems major at the University of California and is interested in pursuing a career focused on water. Her project this summer includes doing research on wastewater pollutants and best management practices for the seafood manufacturer.	Solid Carbon hosting Mason Shannon. Mason is an undergraduate at Oregon State University. He will collect life cycle analysis information on production processes for concrete to  inform the planning of a hypothetical production facility in Oregon.

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Learn more about Materials Management programs in your area and around the state by visiting our website.