A US environmental quality department has updated how glass is classified on the statewide collections list.

The decision means that glass brands may see a significant reduction in EPR programme connected-fee costs.

The newly revised classification for glass is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027.

It places glass back onto the state’s uniform recyclables collection list.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) decided to change glass’s classification under the state's Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernisation Act (PPRMA) after extensive engagement among DEQ, CAA Oregon, industry stakeholders, and the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) earlier this year.

Scott DeFife, President and CEO of the Glass Packaging Institute, said: “The Glass Packaging Institute applauds the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for carefully considering issues raised during the rulemaking process and adopting a more balanced and appropriate approach for glass recovery.

“This decision better reflects the state's long history of successful glass recycling and supports a producer fee structure more consistent with the objectives of the law.

“GPI also wants to thank the Circular Action Alliance Oregon team for their detailed and professional work and collaboration during these past months, as well as the many volunteer committee and task force members that spent time advising on this rules change.”

The decision will be included in a temporary rulemaking in September 2026 so that the change can be incorporated into 2027 planning.

According to DEQ's own estimates, the revised approach could significantly reduce costs attributed to glass brands in Oregon.

The change also reduces the obligation for the state's Producer Responsibility Organisation to financially support all collected glass under the current framework, resulting in a fee structure that more closely aligns with the intent of Oregon's extended producer responsibility law.

The intent of Oregon's extended producer responsibility framework is to have producers share in the cost of improving the recycling system, rather than assume responsibility for the full cost of an existing system.

During the early implementation phases, several regulatory factors had resulted in higher-than-anticipated producer fees for brands using glass packaging, despite Oregon's well established glass recycling infrastructure and strong recycling performance.

Glass is shown to have among the lowest cost to manage in other state EPR programmes with producer fees less than half of what has been charged to glass producers in Oregon.

Furthermore, the programme plan approved by the state showed a very small percentage increase in the overall incremental glass recovered for these costs.

GPI investigated the factors driving costs higher than expected and presented its findings to the Department.

The analysis concluded that glass producers were disproportionately bearing the costs of the existing system rather than funding system improvements.