The House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade convened on March 12, 2025, to discuss House Bill 3246, which aims to promote industrial symbiosis in Oregon. The bill directs the Oregon Business Development Department (OBDD) to create a roadmap for industrial symbiosis, defined as the collaboration between businesses to utilize each other's resources, thereby optimizing resource use and reducing waste.

The bill declares an emergency, making it effective immediately upon passage. It includes a dash 3 amendment that updates the definition of industrial symbiosis and sets specific goals for the initiative. Additionally, it allocates $1.3 million to support a pilot program that will provide technical assistance to selected communities.

During the meeting, Representative Ken Helm emphasized the importance of both a strategic roadmap and immediate support for existing projects. He highlighted insights gained from a recent trip to Denmark, where successful partnerships between businesses and municipalities demonstrated effective waste reuse and resource optimization. Helm noted that the bill includes a competitive grant process to encourage local initiatives, ensuring that communities can begin implementing their ideas while the roadmap is being developed.

The pilot program will focus on diverse communities across Oregon, including areas east and west of the Cascade Range, and will specifically target sectors such as food processing and municipal water management. The OBDD is tasked with selecting communities that reflect the state's geographic and industrial diversity.

This initiative represents a significant step towards enhancing economic and environmental outcomes in Oregon through collaborative resource management. The committee's discussions underscored the urgency and potential impact of the bill, setting the stage for further developments in the state's approach to industrial symbiosis.