Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The Association of Oregon Recyclers' (AOR) goal is to create an organization where everyone feels a sense of belonging and their perspectives are valued as part of our organization’s culture. 

An integral part of AOR’s mission is to “Enhance our understanding and connections to diverse perspectives” as we strive to help build a system of sustainable materials management. 

We acknowledge that AOR’s equity journey is ongoing. 

We have worked with Start Consulting to help guide the work of our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee. Through this process, the EDI committee authored an Equity Statement for AOR, which is a living document and will grow and change with the organization. AOR hosted an Equity Statement feedback session and members also provided written comments that are being integrated into the statement. Since this is a living document, feedback is continually encouraged and welcome. 

Why is AOR Talking About Equity? 

The Association of Oregon Recyclers (AOR) recognizes that systemic, institutional, and personal racism and discrimination impact the industries and places our members represent. We also recognize that representation matters: The AOR community benefits when a variety of backgrounds and personal experiences – both lived and professional – are present. AOR believes that the best way to adequately address systemic issues, is to foster inclusive, diverse workgroups which are able to be more synergistic, support creativity, and are representative of the communities we serve. Of course, it is not enough to simply say all are welcome; we demonstrate it with the topics we discuss, the voices we elevate, and the recommendations we make.

The work to enhance AOR’s mission and goals with a strong foundation of equity, diversity and inclusion is ongoing, and often challenging. All of us are students of this topic with differing levels of understanding. Still, we are committed to these principles in our education and advocacy. We all have our own Why for this work, and we invite everyone to learn along with us why the only truly sustainable future for Oregon is a just and equitable one.

Now and in the Future

At AOR, we recognize equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is not a trend but rather a foundational organizational principle. AOR is moving beyond surface-level initiatives – striving to embed these principles into every aspect of what we do and who we are, from talent acquisition to leadership development. We also endeavor to integrate EDI more deeply into the external-facing roles we play in our local and global communities. Organizations of the future demand agility, inclusivity, and innovation. By integrating EDI into our core, we are positioning ourselves to thrive in an increasingly complex and diverse world, be a leader in our industry, and support our members in creating a culture where people bring their authentic selves to work without fear of judgment or exclusion.

Interested in Serving on AOR's EDI Committee?

The EDI committee is now open to AOR members! Please review our committee charter, and complete the committee interest form below.

EDI Committee Charter (PDF Download)

AOR Equity Statement (PDF Download)

EDI Committee Interest Form (Opens form in external application)