August 13, 2025
Big News for Oregon Recycling: New Facility Will Supercharge #5 Plastic Recovery
Blog
Last week, Denton Plastics celebrated the groundbreaking of a significant expansion of their recycling facility in Gresham, Oregon, a milestone moment for the future of recycling in our state.
This new project is mainly about polypropylene (PP) — the #5 plastic found in many items like yogurt tubs, takeout containers, bottle caps, and plant pots, and will also enable recovery of polyethylene (PE) plastics, which may be mixed in with the PP.
A Big Step Toward a Circular Economy
Denton’s new 18,000-square-foot covered storage facility will nearly double their PP storage capacity and significantly boost how much plastic they can recycle. The company processed over 1.4 million pounds of residential PP in 2023. With this new investment, they aim to increase that number to 2.6 million pounds by 2026, nearly doubling their impact.
A big part of that progress comes from new technology. Denton is installing a plastic flake sorter, which uses advanced sensors to sort plastics by type and color with greater speed and accuracy. This means less contamination and higher-quality recycled materials ready to be turned into new products.
Backed by Smart Investments
This facility is funded through a mix of public and private support, including:
- $500,000 from Metro’s Investment & Innovation Grant
- $950,000 from The Recycling Partnership
- $500,000 match from Denton Plastics
Nicole Janssen, President of Denton Plastics, said, “We are excited about this public-private partnership, which has allowed us to take a big step toward creating a more circular economy. Together, we’re building the infrastructure we need to make recycling more effective and sustainable across the state.”
Getting Ready for 2025 and Beyond
Why now? Starting July 1, 2025, Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act (RMA) requires statewide collection of some PP plastics. That means, by the end of 2027, almost every community in Oregon will begin accepting items like PP tubs and rigid plant pots in recycling bins.
The new Denton facility is designed to meet this demand head-on, ensuring that recycled PP items are given a second life instead of going to waste.
A Win for Communities Across the Northwest
Once completed, this project won’t just benefit Portland. Denton works with partners across Oregon, Washington, and beyond and acts as a Responsible End Market (REM) under Oregon’s RMA. That means the plastic they process goes back into the system, helping to create a true circular economy.
By investing in smart infrastructure and clean processing, Denton’s work helps the recycling system operate more efficiently, reduces contamination, and supports Oregon jobs.
A Model for the Future
Denton Plastics has been a leader in Oregon’s recycling world for over 40 years, recycling more than a billion pounds of plastic during that time. This new investment is part of a bigger strategy, showing how local companies can scale up to meet modern recycling challenges and build a system that works for everyone.
Stay tuned as the new facility takes shape and Oregon moves one step closer to a more circular recycling future!