
Rogue Disposal & Recycling, a recycling company in Southern Oregon, has been found to bury all plastic trash except soda bottles and milk jugs. This is despite the company's previous assurances that all plastic could be recycled. Laura Leebrick, a manager at Rogue, expressed her dismay at this betrayal of public trust, acknowledging that most recycling companies had been sending plastic waste to China, but with China's refusal to accept it, the reality is that only a fraction of plastic produced is actually recycled. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of plastic recycling and the role of oil and gas companies in promoting it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic Recycling | Rogue Disposal & Recycling in Oregon recycles some plastic, including plastic bottles and jugs stamped with #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE). However, an NPR investigation revealed that much plastic is not recycled and is sent to landfills. |
| Curbside Recycling | Rogue offers curbside recycling for #1 and #2 plastic bottles and jugs. Other plastics and plastic items like bags, trays, and containers are not accepted. |
| Transfer Station Recycling | At the Transfer Station, Rogue accepts a wider range of recyclables, including glass bottles and jars, office paper, and some electronics. Plastic bottles with the #1 or #2 chasing arrows symbol are also accepted, but other plastic types are not. |
| Fees | Rogue charges a fee for recycling certain items like antifreeze, appliances, and batteries. There is no cost for recycling corrugated cardboard, #1 and #2 plastic bottles, mixed waste paper, tin and aluminium cans, and glass bottles and jars. |
| Document Destruction | Rogue offers personal document destruction services through Rogue Shred, with drop-off and residential collection options. |
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What You'll Learn
- Rogue Disposal & Recycling in Oregon accepts plastic bottles and jugs stamped with #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) for recycling
- Rogue Recycling previously sent plastic waste to China, but with China's ban, they now bury it
- Rogue offers free on-site waste consultations for commercial recycling programs
- Rogue Compost is made from leaves collected during the year
- Rogue Recycling provides two options for personal document destruction, including a drop-off service

Rogue Disposal & Recycling in Oregon accepts plastic bottles and jugs stamped with #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) for recycling
Rogue Disposal & Recycling in Oregon has a comprehensive recycling program. The company offers a range of services to help residents recycle their waste, including curbside recycling, a transfer station, and document destruction.
Rogue Disposal & Recycling accepts plastic bottles and jugs stamped with #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) for recycling. These plastics are placed in a red-lid recycling cart for curbside pick-up. It is important to note that only plastics #1 and #2 are accepted, and other plastics, such as bags, trays, containers, tubs, and buckets, are not allowed. This restriction helps keep the curbside recycling stream clean and ensures that all collected materials can be sent for recycling.
In addition to plastics, Rogue Disposal & Recycling also accepts corrugated cardboard, mixed waste paper, tin and aluminum cans, and glass bottles and jars at the Transfer Station. They also offer electronic waste recycling for up to ten items per visit at no cost and accept other items, such as antifreeze, appliances, and batteries, for a fee.
Rogue Disposal & Recycling is committed to environmental initiatives and community involvement. They provide resources and education to the public about recycling and work with customers to eliminate contamination in recycling streams. The company also offers on-site waste consultations for commercial recycling programs and has a volunteer team of waste prevention ambassadors, known as the Jackson County Master Recyclers, who cultivate public awareness and support recycling projects and programs.
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Rogue Recycling previously sent plastic waste to China, but with China's ban, they now bury it
Rogue Recycling, a recycling facility in Southern Oregon, previously sent plastic waste to China. However, with China's ban on foreign waste imports, Rogue Recycling has had to find alternative ways to deal with plastic waste. As a result, they now bury it in landfills, except for soda bottles and milk jugs, which are recycled.
For years, manufacturers have known that much of the plastic packaging they market to consumers is not easily recyclable. This has led to a crisis, with too much plastic trash and upset consumers. China's decision to ban foreign waste imports has further exacerbated this issue, leaving recycling companies like Rogue Recycling scrambling for solutions.
Rogue Recycling, like many other recycling companies, was heavily reliant on China as an outlet for plastic waste. With China no longer an option, Rogue Recycling has had to resort to landfilling, which is not a sustainable long-term solution. While they continue to recycle soda bottles and milk jugs, the majority of plastic waste is now being sent to landfills.
This shift from recycling to landfilling has been a challenging transition for Rogue Recycling. Laura Leebrick, a manager at Rogue Recycling, expressed her dismay at having to betray the public trust by disposing of plastic waste in landfills. She also acknowledged that, like other recycling companies, Rogue Recycling had inadvertently misled the public about the recyclability of certain plastics.
Despite these challenges, there are some positive developments in plastic recycling. For example, Rogue Recycling has recently reintroduced curbside plastic recycling for #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) plastic bottles and jugs. Additionally, they have been working with customers to eliminate contamination, allowing them to send 100% of the red-lid roll cart materials collected to recycling processors in Oregon. These efforts demonstrate Rogue Recycling's commitment to improving its plastic recycling practices and reducing its environmental impact.
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Rogue offers free on-site waste consultations for commercial recycling programs
Rogue Disposal & Recycling offers free on-site waste consultations for commercial recycling programs. This service is ideal for those looking to clean out large, cluttered spaces such as garages, attics, or basements. The cost-free consultation includes a detailed waste audit, delivery, removal, and one dump of a level-full five-yard bin.
Rogue's on-site waste consultation is the first step for commercial commingled recycling and glass recycling programs. During the consultation, Rogue will assess your current services and provide recommendations tailored to your specific needs. This includes determining the most suitable solutions for your waste stream, such as recycling or proper disposal.
Rogue's commercial recycling services cover a wide range of materials, including corrugated cardboard, #1 and #2 plastic bottles and jugs, mixed waste paper, tin and aluminium cans, and glass bottles and jars. They also offer special handling and disposal services for medical waste and confidential document shredding. Additionally, Rogue provides recycling for electronic waste (e-waste) and accepts items such as computers, laptops, tablets, and other electronic items at their Transfer Station, adhering to Oregon's Electronics Recycling Law.
Rogue is committed to environmental initiatives and community involvement. Their composting program, Rogue Compost, is made from grass clippings, leaves, and other yard debris collected in the Rogue Valley. They also actively participate in Earth Day celebrations, promoting recycling awareness and conservation of natural resources.
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Rogue Compost is made from leaves collected during the year
Rogue Compost is one of their products, made from the leaves they collect annually. While Rogue Disposal & Recycling focuses on recycling, they also provide waste disposal services, with landfills and transfer stations for non-recyclable materials. They also offer waste consultations and document destruction services.
Rogue Disposal & Recycling has been working to improve its plastic recycling capabilities. As of 2024, they were able to recycle #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) plastic bottles and jugs through their curbside collection. This was a significant improvement, as plastic recycling had been challenging for the company and the industry as a whole. Previously, they had sent plastic waste to China, but when that was no longer an option, they had to find alternative solutions.
Despite these advancements, some plastics remain difficult to recycle without specialised equipment, such as plastic film due to its thin, stretchy, and clingy nature. Additionally, only specific types of plastic with the chasing arrows symbol are accepted for recycling, and even then, contamination can be an issue. Rogue Disposal & Recycling has been working with customers to address this, ensuring that collected materials are sent to recycling processors in Oregon.
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Rogue Recycling provides two options for personal document destruction, including a drop-off service
The first option is to purchase a personal shred bag from their customer service office in downtown Medford or the Transfer Station for $8.50. You can fill the bag with any private and confidential paperwork, such as medical bills, credit card slips, loan papers, and tax forms. Once full, return it to either of their customer service locations for shredding. This option allows you to take your time filling the bag at home and ensures the safe disposal of your sensitive information.
The second option is to rent a Rogue Shred container to keep at home. This option provides a regular schedule or on-call service, where they will come to you and destroy your documents on-site. If you have a large volume of documents, they can provide containers for sorting, and they will pick them up and shred them once you're done. This option is ideal for those with a significant amount of paperwork to dispose of securely.
In addition to these options, Rogue Recycling also offers a drop-off service for personal shred bags and medical waste biohazard boxes during normal business hours. You can bring these items to their customer service office, located at One West Main Street, Suite 401, in downtown Medford. Their goal is to make confidential document destruction as accessible and straightforward as possible, ensuring your privacy and peace of mind.
Rogue Recycling is committed to providing exceptional customer service, so if you have any questions or require further information about their document destruction services, you can easily get in touch with them. They also offer residential shredding services beyond what a typical landlord provides, such as medical waste disposal and electronic waste destruction, ensuring a comprehensive approach to secure waste management.
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Frequently asked questions
Rogue Recycling accepts #1 and #2 plastic bottles and jugs.
Rogue Recycling also accepts corrugated cardboard, mixed waste paper, tin and aluminium cans, glass bottles and jars, and electronics.
According to an NPR report, Rogue Recycling, like most recycling companies, used to send plastic trash to China. However, after China closed its doors to foreign plastic waste, Rogue Recycling started sending all plastic to landfills except for soda bottles and milk jugs.
Rogue Recycling offers free on-site waste consultations for commercial commingled recycling and glass recycling programs. They also accept up to ten electronic items per visit at no cost. However, they charge a fee for recycling items such as antifreeze, appliances, and batteries.
You can schedule a pickup service with Rogue Recycling, or you can drop off your recyclables at their Transfer Station, where you will find clearly marked areas for each type of recyclable material.











































