What’s New for July-August 2025
Dear Climate-Concerned Friends,
CLIMATE CAFÉS
Our Climate Cafés are free and open to the public. For the remainder of 2025, we will meet from 7:00 to 8:30 PM on the third Thursday of every other month (August, October and December, 2025) at the Monmouth Senior/Community Center, 180 Warren Street, Monmouth. Join us to discuss your climate concerns and ideas for climate action.
Oregon’s new recycling law (was) explained:
Joshua Brandt, owner of Brandt’s Sanitary Service, explained Oregon’s new Recycling Modernization Act (RMA) during an informal talk at our June 19 Climate Café. In an engaging and wide-ranging talk, Brandt explained the basics of the new law, the first phase of which began in July of this year. That first phase is implementing a rule, almost unique in the U.S., that requires companies that make, sell of distribute packaging, paper products and food serviceware to pay fees to help ensure their products are recycled responsibly.
In essence, the Act shifts the cost of recycling from local governments and residents to producers of those products by requiring them to join a PRO (Producer Responsibility Organization) that oversees and coordinates the recycling process. The PROS are responsible for funding improvements to Oregon’s recycling infrastructure, collection systems and facilities. Ultimately, these improvements will make recycling in Oregon easier, cheaper for citizens and cities, and more comprehensive.
Although there is not room here to discuss the law and Brandt’s presentation in detail, more information may be found at Oregon Department of Environmental Qualitiy’s website about the RMA. Our thanks to Mr. Brandt for helping those of us in attendance to understand the law, and his willingness to communicate about it to members of the public who are interested.
Michael Cairns Memorial
About 100 people attended the dedication of two interpretive panels at the site of the recently-established wetland in North Riverside Park in Independence on the bright, warm morning of June 28. The panels commemorate the life of one of our group’s founders, Michael Cairns, who was instrumental in the establishment, planting and permanent protection of the wetland. In attendance were members of Michael’s family, Independence’s former and current mayors, and a number of community members including several members of our Climate Action Group.
The wetland, which should still be vibrant a century from now, serves as a reminder of what dedicated community members, such as Michael and others, can accomplish with persistence and dedication to a good cause or project.
Planned Projects
Community Garden and City of Monmouth Climate Plan: Both of these projects are in their early stages. Some of us are meeting with community members about the Community Garden idea, and we should soon be hearing from the City of Monmouth staff about how we can help them formulate a Climate Plan. We should have more information about both of these projects in our next newsletter. If you are interested in working on either project, contact us.
Monthly Zoom Meeting
Join our next regular M-I CAG Zoom meeting at 6:00 PM, Monday, August 11. This meeting is primarily about organization and task distribution for our various group activities. If you want to receive an invitation to attend, please contact us to let us know.