October 13, 2008
Group proposes 10-cent bottle redemption
The redemption value of recyclable bottles in Oregon could raise to 10 cents under a plan proposed by a state task force.
The Joint Interim Bottle Bill Task Force, a group convened by the Legislature to consider changes to the state’s landmark bottle recycling legislation, on Monday released a draft of proposals it will recommend to lawmakers during the next session in January.
Perhaps most critical is a call to increase the nickel redemption value on all recyclable bottles to 10 cents. The task force noted that Michigan, the only state with a 10-cent refund value, has the nation’s highest redemption rate for beer and soda bottles at 90 percent.
Among the other recommendations:
— To further expand the Bottle Bill to include sports drinks, coffees, teas, juices, wines, liquors and other beverages (excluding milk or milk substitutes) effective Jan. 1, 2013.
— To support a proposal by beverage distributors to create a network of bottle redemption centers. The distributors have proposed using the money from unredeemed bottle deposits for up to 90 redemption centers statewide.
— To have the state collect the value of unredeemed bottles if the industry-led plan for redemption centers is unsuccessful.
— To limit the redemption of beverage containers purchased out of state.
The draft recommendations are scheduled to be discussed during a Bottle Bill Task Force conference call on Tuesday.
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