P3 Distributing

09/16/2026

A collection box is not a recycling program.

A successful packaging-recovery system needs safe product design, convenient collection, transportation, a verified destination, manufacturer participation, customer education, and reliable funding.

In this week’s blog, I look at why several well-intentioned cannabis recovery programs have struggled, how Cloud is taking responsibility for its products after the sale, and why budtenders may be the most important link between customers and packaging recovery.

I also discuss what cannabis could learn from Pact Collective and why I believe extended producer responsibility offers the best long-term funding path.

Good intentions are not enough. These systems must be designed to work economically as well as environmentally.

Read the full article:

09/10/2026

Oregon's new EPR law is here, and it could have a real impact on the cost of cannabis packaging.

This week I took a closer look at what the law actually means for Oregon cannabis businesses, including who may be exempt, how packaging weight affects fees, and what those fees could look like for Mylar bags and polypropylene pop-tops.

But the question I keep coming back to is:

Where is the money going?

Cannabis producers will be paying EPR fees on packaging that Oregon's municipal recycling system currently has no effective way to recover. Small-format PP and multilayer Mylar are both good examples.

If we're going to charge producers for putting these materials into the market, I think we should be investing those dollars into systems that can actually recover and process them.

Glass presents another opportunity. We already know cannabis jars can be reused, and I'd like to see EPR funding help expand proven reuse systems instead of simply sending more glass through recycling.

There's still a lot I'm trying to understand about Oregon's new system, and I've reached out to CAA with some of those questions.

I break down what I know so far in this week's blog:

Oregon’s EPR Law: What Cannabis Businesses Need to Know Oregon’s new Extended Producer Responsibility law is here, and if you sell packaged products in Oregon, it is something you need to understand. This isn’t intended to be a compliance guide. Oregon’s EPR system is complicated, and there ...

08/26/2026

What actually happens to a cannabis jar after you put it in one of our recycling boxes?

Since 2022, we’ve cleaned and put 66,871 glass jars back into circulation.

And one of the biggest things we’ve learned might surprise you:

The cannabis oil isn’t the problem. The label is.

Our newest blog takes you behind the scenes at P3 to show how we actually reuse these jars, from soaking and manually removing labels to sanitizing, inspecting and getting them ready to be used again.

We also explain what happens to all the isopropyl alcohol used in the process. We filter it, reuse it and eventually distill it so we can use it again.

There’s a lot more that goes into reuse than simply washing a jar.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens to the packaging you bring back to us, this one is for you.

Read the full story here:

What Actually Happens to a Jar When We Reuse It? A reader recently asked me if I could explain how we actually clean the glass jars that we reuse. It’s a good question. We talk a lot about recycling and reuse, but there is a lot that has to happen between someone dropping a used … Continue readi...

06/18/2026

A national magazine stopped by a few weeks ago.

So excited to get our story out!

About a year after delving into reuse, the Oregon packaging supplier aims to grow that operation as well as its nearly decade-old recycling business. “Reuse isn’t taking off yet because it needs scale,” said owner Patrick Caldwell.

05/14/2026

From the sorting table to the final check — not all plastic cups are created equal. 👀

The Carl’s Jr. cup? Number 1 plastic and not accepted in our system.
The McDonald’s cup? Number 5 plastic and fully recyclable through P3. ♻️

Knowing the difference helps keep more plastic out of the landfill.

05/10/2026

Happy mother's day from p3!

05/06/2026

APRIL 2026 BY THE NUMBERS ♻️🔥
Another HUGE month for the P3 recycling program!

We recycled an incredible 2,190 pounds of plastic in April while keeping contamination down to just 14% trash — in line with our 85% recovery goal

Every bag returned, every pop top recycled, and every stop at a drop box helps keep more plastic out of Oregon landfills and back into real manufacturing. 💪🌎

3,361 pounds collected total.
2,890 pounds diverted from landfill.

04/27/2026

Beautiful day. Strong community. Real impact. ☀️

This weekend we welcomed nearly 100 people to our event—and together we made a difference:

♻️ 200 lbs of plastic collected
🥫 200 lbs of food donated
💵 $140 raised for the Sunshine Division

This is what happens when people show up and take action. Small items, big impact.

Thank you to everyone who came out, donated, and supported the mission. This was our first year and we're already planning for the next.

04/25/2026

Drop off your #5! Be like my cool parents and bring your plastic for drop off.

04/22/2026

This saturday! Bring your friends and family and all your #5 plastics. We will be here from 10 to 4 with food, education, and community.

Happy Earth day!