Oregon bottle deposit to double to 10 cents beginning April 1, 2017

SPOKANE (Scrap Monster): The Oregon bottle deposit rates will be doubled from 5 cents to 10 cents beginning April 1, 2017. According to provisions of House Bill 3145, the redemption value must be doubled within a designated timeframe, if the return rate for beverage containers is below 80% for two consecutive years. The analysis of statewide beverage container redemption data for 2014 and 2015 by the Commissioners of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) had found the redemption rates well below 80%. The proposal to double the deposit rates was approved by the Oregon Senate Monday and is pending for Gov. Kate Brown’s signature.

Each year, the OLCC calculates the previous calendar year’s percentage of beverage containers returned for the refund value for each distributor cooperative and for each distributor/importer that does not participate in a distributor cooperative. In accordance with state law, OLCC is required to evaluate the data for each of the two previous calendar years to determine if the number of beverage containers returned for refund is less than 80% of the total number of beverage containers sold in Oregon. The statewide redemption rate calculated by OLCC for 2014 and 2015 stood at 68.26% and 64.45% respectively.

Currently, Oregon retail stores pay the beverage distributor 5 cents deposit for each container of bottled water, beer and carbonated soft drink that they purchase. When consumers make a purchase, they pay the container deposit amount to the retailer. The consumers are allowed to redeem their deposit by returning the empty container to the retailer or any of the redemption centers. Retail stores then return the empty containers to a distributor or distributor cooperative and receive the original deposit they paid while purchasing. Beginning April 1, 2017, the deposits and redemption value on containers will increase from 5 cents to 10 cents.

The state redeems bottles and cans using ‘BottleDrop’ system. It provides 19 convenient drop-off locations where Oregonians could return the deposit containers and collect their refund. With doubling of bottle deposit to 10 cents per bottle, it expects huge increase in collection volumes across the state.

The beverages currently included in Oregon’s Bottle Bill are water and flavored water, beer and other malt beverages, soda water and mineral water, and carbonated soft drinks in container sizes up to and including 3 fluid liters. Beginning January 1, 2018, all beverage containers between 4 ounces and 1.5 liters will come under the bill, except distilled liquor, wine, dairy or plant-based milk, and infant formula.

The Oregon Bottle Bill is administered and enforced by the OLCC, which ensures compliance with state laws in partnership with distributors, retailers, redemption centers and consumers. The OLCC also coordinates with state agencies including the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environmental Quality.

Oregon was the first US state to introduce Bottle Bill in 1971. Since its introduction, the percentage of beverage containers among roadside litter has dropped significantly from 40% to 6%. Moreover, use of recycled materials has led to significant energy savings. The recycled bottles are also used to make hundreds of new products, OLCC noted.