Editorial

A question of redemption

Have you had any “redemption experiences” lately? And no, this is not about any spiritual event in someone’s personal life. It’s about bottles and cans.

The legislature is considering updating the old 1971 Bottle Bill. For decades now we’ve been paying a nickel deposit on most beer and soft drink containers. For a long time, we took them back to the store and got our deposit back. Then stores installed the machines to take them back, and for some of us the law became a hassle.

One of the provisions of the new bill calls for more places you can take the old containers other than those sometimes balky machines at the supermarkets.

When the measure amending the Bottle Bill cleared a House committee last week, Rep. Ben Cannon, D-Portland, said in a press release:

“The Bottle Bill is one of the most successful recycling devices ever invented, but it’s showing signs of age. The redemption experience needs to be improved for consumers. More containers should be covered. And the deposit should increase if recycling rates drop.”

The bill under consideration is HB 3145. In Cannon’s words, it would “encourage the development of a robust system of redemption centers, which will maintain consumer convenience while improving the redemption experience.” It would also expand the system to require deposits on containers for most juice, tea, and sports and energy drinks.

Most Oregonians might not be looking for a particularly memorable “redemption experience.”

If the legislature could just come up with an easier “get-rid-of-the-empties” experience, that would be enough. (hh)

http://www.democratherald.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_f3019664-701d-11e0-8d1c-001cc4c03286.html