January 31, 2009
Hundreds of stores are behind on Bottle Bill update
OLCC is educating retailers on state's addition of 5-cent deposits to water bottles
More than 200 stores statewide were not prepared for the Jan. 1 addition of water bottles to Oregon's Bottle Bill, according to an investigation by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.
In the Salem area, 17 of the 46 stores checked by investigators were not in compliance with the new law, which requires that water bottles have a 5-cent deposit notice on the bottle.
"People are confused, and we are working with them and helping them to understand what the bottle bill is and really educating folks," said Christie Scott, public affairs specialist with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.
About 40 OLCC inspectors checked water bottles sold in stores throughout Oregon in five different regions: Portland metro, Bend, Eugene, Medford and Salem.
Of the 726 stores investigated, 218 were not in compliance with the law.
The compliance rate was better among stores that hold liquor licenses: 74 percent of those stores had their water bottles marked with the 5-cent deposit notice. Businesses without liquor licenses had a 63 percent compliance rate.
The responsibility for labeling the water bottles with the deposit notice ultimately lies with the manufacturer. But businesses that sell unmarked bottles also are liable — and can be cited with a misdemeanor. Stores that hold a liquor license can receive an administrative sanction in addition to the criminal citation.
Scott said that some stores went above-and-beyond: An Albertson's in Portland had placed 5-cent deposit stickers on water bottles that were not properly labeled by manufacturers.
For now, businesses inspected by the OLCC received a letter explaining the law and offering to help them comply with the addition of water bottles, Scott said.
The addition of water bottles to Oregon's Bottle Bill was the first major update to the law in decades. Several more changes to the bill are expected this legislative session.
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090131/NEWS/901310317/1001
