Oregon’s Bottle Bill rides again
Water, flavored water added to list of redeemable containers
From our weekly issue dated December 31, 2008
Oregon’s Bottle Bill with expanded conditions will go into effect Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, noted Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC).
The Bottle Bill expansion, Senate Bill 707, includes two major changes that affect consumers and retailers.
The first change is that water and flavored water will be added to the list of containers that can be redeemed for a 5-cent deposit. As of Jan. 1, the kinds (types) of containers that will be included in Oregon’s Bottle Bill are:
- Water/flavored water
- Beer/malt beverages
- Soda water/mineral water
- Carbonated soft drinks
All redeemable containers must be labeled with the OR 5¢ deposit on the label. Only containers purchased in Oregon are eligible for a 5-cent redemption.
The second change is that larger retail outlets of 5,000 square feet or more will be required to accept bottle and can returns of all brands and sizes of beverage containers for each kind (type) they sell.
For example, said OLCC, if a store with at least 5,000 square feet of space sells water and soft drinks, then it is required to accept bottle returns of all brands and sizes of water and soft drinks – even brands that it doesn’t carry. However, the store would not be required to accept beer containers, because it does do not sell that kind (type) of product.
This change does not affect retailers with less than 5,000 square feet as they may continue to accept only containers of the same brand and size that they sell.
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Retail stores can limit how many containers can be redeemed per person per day, said OLCC. Consumers may be limited to a maximum of 144 containers per person per day at retailers with 5,000 square feet or more. At retailers with less than 5,000 square feet, the maximum may be set at 50 containers per person per day.
In anticipation of increased call volume, OLCC has set up a temporary phone line dedicated to the Bottle Bill expansion. Consumers and retailers with Bottle Bill questions can phone (888) 426-2009 Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Jan. 1 through mid-February.
For more information visit oregon.gov/OLCC/bottle_bill.shtml.
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