| Name | The Beverage Container Act | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purpose | To reduce litter and increase recycling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enacted | 7/2/1971 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date Implemented | 10/1/1972 (last updated in 2022) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regulations | Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapters 459A.700 - 459A.744 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Beverages Covered |
Beverages ≤ 3L: [1]
Beverages between 4 oz and 1.5L:
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| Beverages Not Covered |
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| Containers Covered | Any individual, separate, sealed glass, metal or plastic bottle, can, jar containing a covered beverage in a quantity less than 3 fluid liters. See details below for information about Oregon's BottleDrop refillables program. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Containers Not Covered | Beverages in cartons, foil pouches, drink boxes, and metal containers that require a tool to be opened are not included even if the beverage and container size would otherwise have a refund value. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of Deposit | 10¢ USD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reclamation System | Retail stores or approved redemption centers. As of early 2020, there were 25 redemption centers operating. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handling Fee | None; co-op funds redemption centers in partnership with retailers |
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| Unredeemed Deposits | Retained by distributor/ bottlers/the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Redemption Rate [2] |
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| % of All Beverages Sold That Are Covered By Deposit | 88% [3] |
Details
Oregon’s Bottle Bill was introduced in 1971 as the very first bottle bill in the United States. The bill was created to address a growing litter problem along Oregon beaches, highways and other public areas. Over the years, the Bottle Bill has prompted several other green initiatives.
The law remained relatively unchanged [3] until bottled water was added to the system in 2009. The law was expanded again to allow for an increase of the deposit/refund value from 5¢ to 10¢ beginning in April 1, 2017 as a result of the redemption rate staying below 80% for two consecutive years (68.26% in 2014 and 64.45% in 2015). [4]
The same bill further expanded the law. Effective January 1, 2018, all beverage containers except distilled liquor, wine, dairy or dairy alternatives, and infant formula now included a deposit. Water, beer, and carbonated soft drinks continue to require a deposit and most other beverages were added, including but not limited to: tea, coffee, hard cider, fruit juice, and coconut water. [5] In 2019, SB 247 was passed which further expanded the bill to include hard seltzers and beverages containing kombucha. [6] "Kefir, drinkable yogurt, milk-based smoothies and other beverages" containing milk or dairy alternatives were later added in 2020. [7]
The bill was last updated in 2022, which expanded beverage coverage to canned wine starting in 2025. The expansion required non-participating beverage distributors to contribute to the redemption program by either becoming a participant, joining the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative, or paying a fee to support the redemption program. [8]
For nearly 40 years, redemption centers did not exist in Oregon, but early in 2010, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission approved the first experimental distributor-run redemption center in Wood Village, and later, Oregon City. Operating under the name BottleDrop and run by the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative, a privately-owned extended producer responsibility (EPR) organization, there are currently 26 redemption centers operating around Oregon. Distributors first began reporting to OLCC for the 2012 calendar year, based on a change in state law. Before that, there was no systematic reporting of beverage sales and returns in Oregon.
There can be up to two “convenience zones” surrounding a redemption center. Large retailers (5,000 square feet or more) within a convenience zone may choose to participate in a redemption center or to provide equivalent services. Participating large retailers located in the first convenience zone may refuse to redeem any containers and participating large retailers located in the second convenience zone may refuse to redeem more than 24 containers. Small convenience type retailers (under 5,000 square feet) within either redemption center convenience zone may refuse to redeem more than 24 containers.
As of early 2023, the reclamation system consists of 26 redemption centers, 17 BottleDrop Express sites, 54 dealer redemption centers, and 1,907 retail return sites, with 712 RVMs deployed in the state. [9]
Refillables system
A refillables system in Oregon is operated by the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC), and uses standardized, Oregon-specific bottles. The program is open to all bottlers. As of early 2021, 11 bottlers of beer, wine, and hard cider were selling about 100 beverage brands in OBRC refillables. Existing BottleDrop locations are used for bottle redemption. [10] OBRC reported that this system prevented 407,840 bottles from being crushed and recycled in 2019. [11] [12]
Footnotes
[1] "Oregon's Bottle Bill: Included Beverages." Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. Reviewed July 2020.
[2] Reported recycling rates sourced as follows:
2023: "2023 Beverage Container Return Data." Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. August 1, 2024.
2022: "2022 Beverage Container Return Data." Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. August 1, 2023.
2021: "2021 Beverage Container Return Data." Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. August 1, 2022.
2020: "2020 Beverage Container Return Data." Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. August 1, 2021.
2019: "2019 Beverage Container Return Data." Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. August 1, 2020.
2018: "2018 Beverage Container Return Data." Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. August 1, 2019.
2017: "2017 Beverage Container Return Data." Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. August 1, 2018.
2016: "2016 Beverage Container Return Data." Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. August 1, 2017.
2015: "2015 Beverage Container Return Data." Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. August 1, 2016.
2014: "2014 Beverage Container Return Data." Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. August 1, 2015.
2013: "2013 Beverage Container Return Data." Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. August 1, 2014.
2012: "2012 Beverage Container Return Data." Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. August 1, 2013.
[3] "2019 Beverage Market Data Analysis." Container Recycling Institute. 2022.
[4] Small amendments were made in 1973, 1977, 1979, 1981, and 1993 to ban nondegradable can ring holders and change the number of containers that stores are required to redeem per person per day.
[5] "2018 Bottle Bill Expansion: Frequently Asked Questions." Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. 2017.
[6]OR SB 247.. 2019. Oregon Live LLC.
[7] "Oregon Bottle Bill Changes, Additions Coming in 2020." Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. December 20, 2019.
[8] "Bottle bill modernization advances under Senate action." The World Newspaper. March 9, 2022.
[9] "OBRC Quarterly Report: Q1 - 2023." Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative. 2023.
[10] “Oregon Launches First Statewide Refillable Bottle System In US.” Profita, Cassandra. Oregon Public Broadcasting. August 27, 2018.
[11]Personal communication with Eric Chambers. Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC). February 16, 2021.
[12] OBRC presentation at CRI webinar: “The Return of Refillables in the United States.” Presented at CRI webinar. Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC). December 13, 2018.
Additional Reports:
"2021 Beverage Container Redemption Centers 2018 – 2019," See Report
"2019 Annual Report," Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative, See Report
"2018 Annual Report," Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative, See Report
"2017 Annual Report," Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative, See Report
Last Updated August 8, 2024.