May 12, 2007
Senate OKs adding water containers to bottle bill
Grocers had proposed change, asking retailers to fund redemption sites
BETH CASPER
Despite a new proposal introduced this week by the Northwest Grocery Association, original legislation to add water containers to the bottle bill is moving forward.
Senate Bill 707A passed the House Committee on Energy and the Environment on Friday. It now moves to the House floor, sponsored by Rep. Vicki Berger, R-Salem. It already has passed the Senate.
The bill adds all containers that hold water and flavored water, keeps the deposit at 5 cents and creates a task force to study any further expansion.
"The system needs to be revisited -- there is a lot of discussion about redemption centers," said Rep. Jackie Dingfelder, D-Portland, who chairs the house environment committee. "Redemption centers need to be looked at ... but while also maintaining consumer convenience."
Right now, grocery stores that sell beverage containers covered under the bottle bill are required to take those containers back at the store.
The Northwest Grocery Association floated a new proposal this week that would require retailers to provide funding for redemption centers, which would be run by the state. By 2010, those redemption centers would collect beverage containers, batteries, plastic bags and electronics.
"All the parts are there -- a detailed structure, $60 million in annual funding, and a strict timeline to complete the system," said association president Joe Gilliam. "If this isn't it, then all this talk about wanting to proliferate Oregon's icon is a hollow gesture."
Legislators cited the lateness of the proposal as the reason for not amending the bill in the house committee.
Rep. Greg Macpherson, D-Lake Oswego, said he appreciated the grocers' proposal but said it was not appropriate to start working through the numerous issues now.
Rep. Ben Cannon, D-Portland, who voted for the water bottle expansion, said that the bill will mean the recycling of a significant portion of currently trashed water bottles.
"We are throwing away 14,000 water bottles every hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he said. "This will help that."
bcasper@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 589-6994
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070512/LEGISLATURE/705120316/1042
