Subscribe to OPB’s First Look to receive Northwest news in your inbox six days a week.

Good morning, Northwest.

Product distributors are calling for changes to Oregon’s new statewide recycling program, saying fees that kicked in last year are making it hard to do business in the state.

OPB’s April Ehrlich starts today’s newsletter with a look at how courts and the Oregon Legislature are addressing companies’ concerns.

In other news, leaders are eyeing the Portland Clean Energy Fund to help pay to renovate the Moda Center.

Here’s your First Look at Wednesday’s news.

—Bradley W. Parks

More businesses demand pause on Oregon’s new recycling fees, following court decision

A small part of Oregon’s new statewide recycling system is on hold after a judge pushed pause in response to a lawsuit filed by product distributors.

The Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act aims to set statewide recycling standards and expand recycling service to more communities.

It’s funded by fees on companies with over $5 million in annual revenue that sell packaged products in Oregon.

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors sued the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality last year, criticizing both the law and the state’s choice to have a third-party nonprofit administer the fee system. (April Ehrlich)

Learn more

3 things to know this morning

• City and state officials need to raise more than half a billion dollars to renovate the Moda Center — and they’re once again eyeing the Portland Clean Energy Fund to help pay for some of it. But is that even possible? (Monica Samayoa)
• One of Oregon’s influential advocacy groups issued a report yesterday accusing the state Department of Human Services of failing to protect a teenager with autism who was discovered in his home after he had been dead for several weeks. (Lauren Dake)
• Oregon lawmakers are on the hunt for money to balance the state’s transportation budget. Yesterday, lawmakers shared some options, including freezing open positions and pulling money from certain programs as they work to avoid deep layoffs at ODOT. (Dirk VanderHart)

Headlines from around the Northwest

• Bill could mitigate legal battles in Harney Basin. Critics say it would sideline water regulators (Alejandro Figueroa)
• Oregon Democrats’ campaign finance proposal would establish spending limits, push back other provisions (Bryce Dole)
• Bargaining gridlocked between Portland Community College and its two unions, strike looms (Tiffany Camhi)
• Western Washington police, first responders say they’ve been mistaken for ICE agents (Freddy Monares)
• Nonprofit says Portland’s Leach Botanical Garden will close in March without additional funding (April Ehrlich)
• Legislation imperiled in push to restore waivers for Oregon gyms, ski resorts and other businesses (Bryce Dole)
• Portland Chamber Orchestra abruptly dissolves, cancels last 2 concerts due to lackluster fundraising (Kyra Buckley)
• Oregon lawmakers propose criminal penalties for alarming, threatening public officials (Shaanth Nanguneri)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

• 2 perspectives on bipartisan bill that would hike Oregon lodging tax to help wildlife
• Former National Park Service Director Chuck Sams on the loss of institutional knowledge within the agency

Nike says its bionic shoes could change human mobility

Scientists at Nike have developed bionic sneakers that the company says are “like an e-bike for your feet.”

The battery-powered sneakers, dubbed “Project Amplify,” contain complex motors, sensors and circuitry and weigh about two pounds. Titanium leg shells attach to the user’s calf and help propel them forward.

“What it’s doing is learning how your ankles are moving, how long your steps are, taking the algorithms and customizing them for you,” said Alison Sheets-Singer, Project Amplify’s lead scientist. “So that when it turns on, it feels natural and smooth.”

Nike plans to launch the shoes commercially in 2028. (Chloe Veltman)

Learn more

Subscribe to OPB’s First Look to receive Northwest news in your inbox six days a week.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/02/11/oregon-recycling-program-fees-first-look/