Four different versions of an updated bottle bill were seen in the 2007 Oregon Legislature. Senate Bill 481 and Senate Bill 634 would have expanded the bill to include all liquid drinks except milk, medicine, & flavorings; they would have also increased the deposit amount and created redemption centers. Senate Bill 706 would have changed the definitions of 'beverage' and 'beverage container' and changed the deposit amount. Senate Bill 707 was the only bill to make it through legislature; it was signed into law in June. The passage of this bill updated the deposit law to include bottled water, and created a task force to study beverage and container collection and refund matters.
Public Hearing: SB 634 and SB 481had a public hearing at 3:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 27
Senate Bill 707 was amended in Senate on April 18, and was scheduled for a second public hearing on April 19.
April 23: SB 707 passed Senate with a vote of 23-7
May 24: Approved on a 42-16 vote in the House, the measure then returned to the Senate for action on amendments.
June 7: Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed the bill into law. It will take effect Jan. 1, 2009. The task force assigned to look into other changes such as moving to redemption centers (Oregon is entirely return-to-retail), including other beverages, and possibly raising the deposit, is expected to come back with recommendations by November 2008.
Association of Oregon Recyclers
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