Baker City Launches Curbside Recycling with Producer-Funded Investment

In April, Baker City became one of Oregon’s newest communities to expand recycling access through producer-funded system improvements made possible by the Recycling Modernization Act. 

The city officially launched a new on-route curbside recycling program, with cart distribution beginning April 9. Recycling is now collected every other week alongside trash service for approximately 3,500 residential customers within city limits, served by Baker Sanitary.  

Service expansion is expected to continue. Rural areas of Baker County, including Haines and parts of Baker Valley, are expected to begin receiving curbside recycling service in June, with potential for further expansion over time. 

The new program reflects extensive coordination between Baker Sanitary and Circular Action Alliance Oregon (CAA). Through producer-funded investments, CAA provided over $1.1 million to Baker Sanitary to support the launch. Funding covered more than 5,000 new recycling carts and two dedicated recycling trucks, helping establish long-term, reliable recycling service in the region. 

The curbside program is complemented by a new RecycleOn Center at Baker Sanitary’s recycling facility, which provides a drop-off option for items not accepted in curbside carts and supports proper material management statewide. 

Together, these investments demonstrate how producer responsibility can strengthen local recycling systems, expand access in rural Oregon communities and improve convenience and service reliability for residents.