May 17, 2011
Bottle bill revamp passes latest test, heads to Senate floor for final vote
A major revamp of Oregon's first-in-the-nation bottle bill is one step closer to becoming law Tuesday after the Senate's environment committee voted to send the legislation to the full chamber.
House Bill 3145, which passed on a partisan vote with three Democrats voting in favor and two Republicans voting against, would rework Oregon's bottle deposit system in three ways:
-- It would expand the types of items covered to include just about any glass, metal or plastic beverage container, except for those that hold milk, wine or liquor.
-- It would increase the current nickel deposit to a dime if redemption rates fall below 80 percent two years in a row.
-- Lastly, it would mark a shift from the in-store collection system to one that relies more heavily on off-site redemption centers.
The proposal has already passed through the Oregon House with wide support and now needs the Senate's stamp of approval and the governor's signature to become law.
During a hearing on the legislation Tuesday, Senate President Peter Courtney spoke strongly in favor of the update.
"It's easy for me to get nostalgic about the bottle bill," he said. "The fact is, it's a legislative masterpiece."
The new proposal, a compromise that has drawn support from environmentalists, grocers and distributors, is "is a sensible next step, next generation bottle bill," Courtney said.
Still, the two Republican senators on the committee had hoped to adjust the proposal some.
First, they wanted a firmer definition on what, exactly, would be included in the expansion. They were concerned the term "beverage" could include some medicines or other items not intended to be included in the expansion. Instead, they were in favor or a definition that specifically named teas, sports drinks, coffees and other targeted beverages.
They also lobbied for the nickel-to-a-dime increase to be left out and picked up in a later legislative session should redemption rates become an issue.
"Why not re-evaluate the dime later on?" asked Sen. Alan Olsen, R-Canby.
Ultimately, both amendments were defeated and the committee passed the bill to the full floor just as it was received. Sen. Jackie Dingfelder, D-Portland, did, however, take a moment to put on record that the bill was not intended to include pharmaceutical products.
The full Senate could consider the bill as early as Thursday.
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/05/post_29.html
