"Oregon's Bottle Bill: Past, Present, and Proposed Changes"

[!CDATA[Oregon's bottle bill, the first of its kind in the nation, is facing potential changes after more than five decades. The law, aimed at reducing littering by incentivizing recycling, has led to unintended consequences, such as attracting drug activity and homelessness to bottle redemption sites. The legislation, originally signed by former Oregon Gov. Tom McCall, has evolved over the years, expanding accepted containers and increasing the deposit to 10 cents. Consumers pay a deposit on eligible bottles and cans, which they can redeem at designated centers. Oregonians can choose between cash redemptions or account deposits for their refunds. While the deposit amount has not kept up with inflation, many low-income residents rely on it. However, concerns have been raised about safety at all-night convenience stores that are required to accept container returns. The proposed changes to the bottle bill would allow stores to refuse container returns after 8 p.m. and introduce alternative redemption sites, such as mobile trucks, to relieve pressure on retailers. Nonprofits would operate these sites, providing a solution for daily redeemers, particularly in downtown areas. The proposal has garnered support from retailers and groups like the Ground Score Association, which advocates for canners and waste pickers who rely on container redemption for income. Despite criticisms that the bottle bill contributes to the fentanyl crisis, supporters argue that most people redeeming bottles do so out of necessity. The Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative, which manages the bottle bill program, retains unredeemed deposits, amounting to over $30 million in 2019. A state audit recommended changes, including redirecting some unredeemed deposits to fund environmental programs.]]