Oregon Bottle Bill#Recent history

The refund value has been 10 cents since April 1, 2017 and it applies to covered beverages in cans or bottles made from metal, glass or plastic.

Source:{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/docs/bottle_bill/DistributorLetter_110419.pdf|title=OLCC letter|date=November 4, 2019|website=Oregon Liquor Control Commission|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203184809/https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/docs/bottle_bill/DistributorLetter_110419.pdf|archive-date=February 3, 2020|access-date=February 3, 2020}}

1. Water and flavored water
2. Beer or other malt beverages
3. carbonated soft drinks.
4. kombucha
5. hard seltzer

Any beverages other than the above in sizes 4 oz to 1.5 liters in metal, glass or plastic containers are subject to a 10 cent refund value. Some milk based products such as kefir, drinkable yogurt, milk-based smoothies and milk or plant-based milk with other ingredients that have been previously excluded were enrolled into the Oregon Bottle Bill in January 2020, but the OLCC reversed the decision on February 5, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/02/09/spilt-milk-the-oregon-liquor-control-commission-reverses-course-on-dairy-containers/|title=Spilt Milk: The Oregon Liquor Control Commission Reverses Course on Dairy Containers|last=Jaquiss|first=Nigel|date=February 9, 2020|website=Willamette Week|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/docs/news/news_releases/2019/nr_122019_BottleBill_Updates_2019_alc.pdf|title=Oregon Bottle Bill Changes, Additions Coming in 2020|date=December 20, 2019|website=OLCC|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203184812/https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/docs/news/news_releases/2019/nr_122019_BottleBill_Updates_2019_alc.pdf|archive-date=February 3, 2020|access-date=February 3, 2020}}

Sources:{{cite web|url=https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors459A.html|title=ORS 459A|publisher=State of Oregon|access-date=20 April 2013}}

1. distilled spirits (liquor). Canned cocktails are considered liquor.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-28 |title=No, you can't redeem canned cocktails containers for 10 cents in Oregon |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/verify/oregon-bottle-bill-does-not-include-liquor-wine/283-cb3c1637-dd76-4712-a25d-dab3412eae5f |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=kgw.com |language=en-US}}
2. wine, including mead and hard cider over 8.5% ABV (however, if in metal cans, these are redeemable starting July 1, 2025)
3. milk and plant based milk
4. infant formula
5. vinegar (except drinking vinegar)
6. flavoring and condiments, including juices not normally drunk without mixing, like lemon and lime juice
7. concentrates and syrup{{cite web|title=2018 Expansion FAQs|url=http://www.oregon.gov/olcc/docs/bottle_bill/BottleBill_Expansion_FAQs.pdf|publisher=Oregon Liquor Control Commission|access-date=3 January 2018}}
8. meal replacements

2022 expansion to Oregon Bottle Bill added canned wine, which will carry a refund value starting on July 1, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Lehman |first=Chris |date=2022-03-02 |title=Oregon's Bottle Bill would expand to cover canned wine under legislation advancing in Salem |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2022/03/oregons-bottle-bill-would-expand-to-cover-canned-wine-under-legislation-advancing-in-salem.html |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=The Oregonian |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Environment bills address Oregon's bottle bill, earthquake safety, more |url=https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2022/03/10/which-environmental-bills-passed-the-oregon-legislature/65063333007/ |access-date=2022-07-10 |website=Statesman Journal |language=en-US}}

Bulk redemption of Oregon bottles by bag drop was introduced in 2010.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-04-15 |title=New BottleDrop Express bag drop location opens at Bend's NE Third Street Albertsons |url=https://ktvz.com/community/community-billboard/2022/04/15/new-bottledrop-express-bag-drop-location-opens-at-bends-ne-third-street-albertsons/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=KTVZ |language=en-US}} In this redemption method, consumers create an account and fill designated bags with empty containers and drop off the filled bags to a participating location. They're collected and taken to a processing center and refund value is credited to the consumer's account after they have been counted.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/redemption-rates-have-skyrocketed-oregon-bottledrop-program-seeing-more-participation/283-a32ea24a-4086-4fa6-ae3f-a1b00f1db187|title='Redemption rates have skyrocketed': Oregon BottleDrop program seeing more participation|last=Falkers|first=Brittany|date=April 22, 2019|website=KGW|access-date=2020-04-30}} By February 2024, one in four households in Oregon had a bag account.{{Cite web |title=Part 3: Recycling Solutions, It Works Elsewhere: Beverage Container Redemption Solutions - Bag Drop Programs |url=https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/283228 |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=www.winebusiness.com |language=en}} State audit reported that consumers have complained about accuracy of the counting process, but found the program generally works well. The audit identified an instance where the OBRC incorrectly counted against a usage quota and commented that they were unable to identify where discrepancy came from due to account only shows the current balance without revealing credit for each bag.

File:Bottle Drop Kiosk and Express.jpg|BottleDrop Express drop vault for depositing tagged green bags and a BottleDrop kiosk for account access and label printing.

File:Oregon BottleDrop green bags and bag tags.jpg|Green bag and bag tags printed from the kiosk for use with drop off service.

The redemption operator OBRC is rated "B+" by the Better Business Bureau as of June 2025 with the reasoning of having 21 complaints.{{Cite web |title=Better Business Bureau - BottleDrop |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/or/clackamas/profile/bottle-return/bottledrop-1296-22736775 |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=www.bbb.org}}

It is unlawful under Oregon Revised Statutes 459A.080 to remove recyclable containers set aside for collection by a city or county collection service without the permission of the owner or generator of the contents, which includes going through curbside bins for containers with deposit value.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregon.gov/deq/FilterDocs/recMultiTenaStat.pdf|title=Oregon Multi-Tenant Statutes, Rules and Guiding Documents|last=Stafki|first=Brian|date=January 2018|publisher=Oregon Department of Environmental Quality|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518223942/https://www.oregon.gov/deq/FilterDocs/recMultiTenaStat.pdf|archive-date=May 18, 2019|access-date=May 18, 2019|quote=No person may remove source-separated recycling set out for collection — such as someone scavenging deposit containers}} It is also unlawful to remove recyclable material from a container, box, vehicle, depot or other receptacle for the accumulation or storage of recyclable material without permission of the receptacle's owner.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors459A.html|title=ORS 459A}} Violation of ORS 459A.080 is a class A misdemeanor criminal offense per ORS 459.992(1)(d){{Cite web|url=https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors459.html|title=ORS 459}} In the Oregon Supreme Court case State v. Waterhouse, defendant, a scrapper, was found guilty of intentionally appropriating scrap metal having some value to himself.{{Cite web|url=https://willamette.edu/law/resources/journals/wlo/orsupreme/2016/05/state-v.-waterhouse.html|title=Willamette Law Online - Oregon Supreme Court Updates - State v. Waterhouse {{!}} Willamette University College of Law|website=willamette.edu|access-date=2019-05-09}}

File:No cans.jpg advising would-be trespassers that no returnable containers are kept on property]]

In December 2018, The Columbian reported neighbors in the Cascade Park neighborhood in Vancouver, Washington near the Oregon border have noticed thefts of cans and bottles as well as the curbside bins. A district manager for Waste Connections reported its subsidiary Columbia Resource Company that handles Clark County, Washington saw a 9% reduction in glass bottles returned after the deposit increased from 5 cents to 10 cents in Oregon in 2017. He attributes the likely cause to theft. Removal of contents from recycling bins or nearby them without the consent of the generator or the hauler is prohibited in Clark County.{{Cite web|url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2018/dec/04/oregon-senator-to-introduce-bill-to-thwart-return-of-bottles-cans-bought-in-washington/|title=Oregon senator to introduce bill to thwart return of bottles, cans bought in Washington|last=Thomas|first=Jake|date=2018-12-04|website=The Columbian|language=en|access-date=2019-05-21}} Waste Connections did not provide an exact number on thefts from recycling bins, but reported enough is removed and taken to Oregon to have a financial impact for Waste Connections which sells recyclable materials collected.{{Cite web|url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2019/jun/03/washington-oregon-agencies-tackle-redeemable-recyclables-issue/|title=Washington, Oregon agencies tackle redeemable recyclables issue|last=Thomas|first=Jake|date=June 3, 2019|website=The Columbian|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-08}} The Columbian reported in June 2019 that reports of scavengers rummaging through recycling bins have increased in the past year. The newspaper reports scavengers target cans and bottles that have value across the Columbia river which undercuts the hauler as well as generating complaints from the public. Marty Smith, writing for the Willamette Week reports that community members in Vancouver started complaining about theft of cans and bottles from their recycling bins.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2019/08/14/do-stores-get-compensation-for-handling-bottle-redemption-some-employees-seem-to-spend-their-whole-shift-on-it/|title=Do Stores Get Compensation For Handling Bottle Redemption? Some Employees Seem to Spend Their Whole Shift on It|last=Smith|first=Marty|date=August 14, 2019|website=Willamette Week|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-08}} To better track complaints related to recyclables scavenging, the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA), the police dispatch for Clark County{{Cite web|title=CLARK REGIONAL EMERGENCY SERVICES AGENCY - CRESA Always Here, Always Ready|url=http://cresa911.org/|access-date=2020-11-22|language=en-US}} is looking into a way of tracking scavenging complaints. In Washington state, scavenging is a crime of third degree theft.{{Cite web|last=Hewitt|first=Scott|date=January 26, 2011|title=What's Up with That? Scavenging recyclables is illegal; report incidents|url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jan/26/scavenging-recyclables-is-illegal-report-incidents/|access-date=2020-11-29|website=The Columbian|language=en-US}} According to the city of Vancouver, scavenging is considered by law enforcement to be a gateway crime to other crimes such as illegal drugs and identity theft.

A video on the internet showing a woman dumping water into the sink at the BottleDrop redemption center in 2017 caused a community outrage and resulted in the woman being cited for theft of $40 worth of bottled water from Albertsons. Police commented that as she was seen cashing stolen goods, it could be a felony.{{Cite web|last=Jusino|first=Daniela|date=2017-04-03|title=VIDEO: Woman cited after stealing water for bottle redemption|url=https://ktvl.com/news/local/couple-in-video-charged-after-stealing-water-for-bottle-redemption|access-date=2020-11-15|website=KTVL}}

In a 2018 concession stand burglary at Douglas McKay High School in Salem, burglars emptied out about ten cases of 24-pack beverages into a trash can inside the concession stand and stole the empty containers.{{Cite web|date=2018-10-15|title=$1,200 in concessions stolen from McKay Boosters|url=https://www.salemreporter.com/posts/128/1-200-in-concessions-stolen-from-mckay-boosters|access-date=2020-11-12|website=Salem Reporter|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Kent|first=Kandra|date=October 15, 2018|title=Stolen snacks: Thief hits McKay High School concession stand|url=https://www.kptv.com/news/stolen-snacks-thief-hits-mckay-high-school-concession-stand/article_45a9dd9a-d06a-11e8-a3d8-67e457ffdd70.html|access-date=2020-11-12|website=KPTV.com|language=en}} School staff believed the theft motive was converting the stolen containers into cash at the nearby OBRC BottleDrop redemption center on Lancaster Drive.{{Cite web|last=Barreda|first=Virginia|date=October 15, 2018|title=Salem's McKay High School concession stand burglarized, $1,200 in losses|url=https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2018/10/15/mckay-high-school-concession-stand-robbed/1642070002/|access-date=2020-11-12|website=Statesman Journal|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2018-10-15|title=Thief steals $1,200 in drinks, snacks from Salem school's fundraiser concession stand|url=https://katu.com/news/local/thief-steals-1200-in-drinks-snacks-from-salem-schools-fundraiser-concession-stand|access-date=2020-11-12|website=KATU}}

In September 2019, Recology, a waste hauler operating in Ashland told the Ashland Tidings that in addition to theft, its drivers were experiencing harassment by emboldened recyclables thieves that they had to improvise plans to deal with theft and harassment of drivers by thieves.{{Cite web |last=Egert |first=Nina |date=September 23, 2019 |title=Glass thieves lead to discovery |url=https://ashlandtidings.com/lifestyle/act-locally/glass-thieves-lead-to-discovery |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003150958/https://ashlandtidings.com/lifestyle/act-locally/glass-thieves-lead-to-discovery |archive-date=2019-10-03 |access-date=2020-04-01 |website=Ashland Tidings}} Recology receives many calls from customers concerning people going through their bins. The company recommends people to not put out their redeemables, donating them to charities or redeeming them themselves to reduce this problem.{{Cite web|url=https://ktvl.com/news/local/recycling-company-speaks-out-on-controversial-problem|title=Recycling company speaks out on controversial problem|last=Currier|first=Carsyn|date=2019-10-04|website=KTVL|access-date=2020-04-11}}

Oregon DEQ survey reports over half of 77 multi-family property managers interviewed{{Cite web|date=January 2018|title=Multifamily Property Manager Interviews|url=https://www.oregon.gov/deq/FilterDocs/recMultiManInterview.pdf|publisher=Oregon Department of Environmental Quality}} identified the use of waste collection area by non-tenants, such as transients, a problem that cause issues such as contamination of recyclable materials.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregon.gov/deq/FilterDocs/recmultistate.pdf|title=The State of Multi-Tenant Recycling in Oregon|last=Stafki|first=Brian R|date=April 18, 2018|website=Oregon DEQ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526212922/https://www.oregon.gov/deq/FilterDocs/recmultistate.pdf|archive-date=May 26, 2019|access-date=May 26, 2019|quote=3.4.12 Non-tenant use}} Oregon DEQ opined retrieval of returnable containers as the motivation for transients and other non-tenants to access the collection areas.

Jules Bailey, the chief stewardship officer for OBRC, told the Mail Tribune there have been instances of people attempting to redeem cans that have already been redeemed through a machine.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2017-04-24 |title=BottleDrop center accepts crushed cans on case by case basis |url=http://mailtribune.com/news/happening-now/bottledrop-center-accepts-crushed-cans-on-case-by-case-basis |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226161716/http://mailtribune.com/news/happening-now/bottledrop-center-accepts-crushed-cans-on-case-by-case-basis |archive-date=February 26, 2019 |access-date=2019-05-04 |website=Mail Tribune}}

Redemption of out-of-state containers is considered a fraud and prohibited by the bottle bill. Retailers and redemption centers may refuse to accept containers when they have reasonable grounds to believe they were purchased outside of Oregon. Staff at some locations near the state border request receipts proving the containers being redeemed were purchased in Oregon.{{Cite web |date=January 2023 |title=Bottle Bill FAQ |url=https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/docs/bottle_bill/bottle_bill_faqs.pdf |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310140333/https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/docs/bottle_bill/bottle_bill_faqs.pdf |archive-date=March 10, 2025 |website=OLCC Bottle Bill FAQ}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bottledropcenters.com/About/FAQ|title=BottleDrop Oregon Redemption Centers FAQ|access-date=May 2, 2019|quote=No, bringing any amount of out of state purchased cans and bottles in to Oregon for a refund is fraudulent per the Oregon Bottle Bill. A person does not have to be an Oregon resident to redeem containers in Oregon, but only beverage containers that were purchased in Oregon may legally be redeemed in Oregon. If you live out of state and purchase deposit eligible containers in Oregon, we advise to keep those receipts to present to BottleDrop staff upon request.}} Fraudulent redemption has been a problem according to KATU news. As told to KATU reporter by a coop (OBRC) representative, the redemption center staff at Delta Park near the state boundary catches about 50 people per day from Washington.{{Cite news|url=https://katu.com/news/local/oregon-recycling-centers-seeing-more-non-redeemable-containers-from-washington|title=Oregon recycling centers seeing more non-redeemable containers -- from Washington|last=English|first=Joe|date=December 8, 2018|work=KATU|access-date=May 2, 2019}} C-TRAN which operates public transit service that traverses between Vancouver, Washington and Portland have banned the carrying of empty beverage containers on their service for safety and sanitation reasons created by people who carry cans across the state line on their service to redeem them in Portland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2018/sep/14/c-tran-to-ban-empty-bottles-and-cans/|title=C-Tran to ban empty bottles and cans|date=2018-09-14|website=The Columbian|language=en|access-date=2019-05-02}} In May 2019, Jules Bailey from OBRC said he did not know the magnitude of the problem, but said it is an issue with the return of Washington containers around the "Columbia corridor" and minimal issues with California or Idaho.http://oregon.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=26771 House Committee On Energy and Environment 2019-05-02 1PM, Jules Bailey (OBRC) 23:20 Senate Bill 522 sponsored by senator Betsy Johnson from Scappoose fines those who bring out-of-state containers. The bill was passed and signed into law making fraudulent redemption a Class D violation going into effect January 2020. Johnson told KGW "retail grocers in her district every day are overwhelmed with massive bottle returns from the Washington side of river, sometimes by the pickup load."{{Cite news|url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/bill-fines-people-who-redeem-washington-bottles-cans-in-oregon/283-fe60d3a7-0014-4cb3-a571-1b8942f36429|title=Bill fines people who redeem Washington bottles & cans in Oregon|last=Rollins|first=Michael|date=March 13, 2019|access-date=2019-05-03|website=KGW}} During the public hearing, the store director for the St. Helens Safeway testified to the committee of seeing a dramatic increase in Washington residents returning containers and described that people arrive in Washington plate vehicles with cases of bottled water and emptying them out on the parking lot to prepare the bottles to return into bottle machines at the Safeway location he manages.{{Cite web|url=https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2019R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/173187|title=To: Oregon Legislation SB 522 Committee RE: Washington beverage containers returned to Oregon|last=Knight|first=Doug|date=March 14, 2019}} Northwest Grocery Association's president reported redemption rates at redemption centers near the Oregon state border have seen a sharp rise, sometimes over 100% following the deposit value increase in Oregon.

In the November 2020 State audit, OBRC reported the cost of cross-border fraud is "upwards of $10 million" however, auditors could not verify OBRC's claim.{{Cite web|last=Withycombe|first=Claire|date=November 10, 2020|title=Audit: 50 years on, Oregon can do more to boost environmental effects of bottle deposit|url=https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2020/11/10/audit-oregon-bill-environmental-goals-recycling-center/6229830002/|access-date=2020-11-15|website=Statesman Journal|language=en-US}} In preparing the report, representatives from the Audits Division visited two BottleDrop redemption centers near the Washington border and they reported observing numerous people arriving in vehicles with Washington license plates or without any plates.{{Cite web|last=Jaquiss|first=Nigel|date=November 10, 2020|title=State Audit of Oregon's Iconic Bottle Bill Notes Cross-Border Fraud, Missed Opportunity in Wine, Liquor Redemption|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2020/11/10/state-audit-of-oregons-iconic-bottle-bill-notes-cross-border-fraud-opportunity-in-wine-liquor-redemption/|access-date=2020-11-15|website=Willamette Week|language=en-US}}

File:Water Dumping.jpg

"Water dumping" is a term dubbed by the United States Department of Agriculture referring to a commonly perpetrated welfare fraud by cash seeking welfare recipients purchasing bottled water so they can empty them out and redeem containers for the redemption value in cash.{{Cite web|url=https://bangordailynews.com/2011/08/19/news/state/food-stamp-%e2%80%98water-dumping%e2%80%99-scam-continues/|title=Food stamp 'water dumping' scam continues|website=Bangor Daily News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-21}} In September 2012, such scheme was not considered a fraud in Oregon.{{Cite web|url=http://kval.com/news/local/oh-snap-water-dumping-as-a-food-stamp-scam|title=Oh SNAP! Water dumping as a food stamp scam|last=Steele|first=Ty|date=2012-09-13|website=KVAL|access-date=2019-05-21}}{{Citation|last=Ty Steele|title=WATER DUMPING FOOD STAMP FRAUD|date=2014-04-28|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C7E61-1Yyg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/2C7E61-1Yyg |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2019-05-26}}{{cbignore}} In February 2013, USDA expanded the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program fraud definition to include water dumping.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fns.usda.gov/pressrelease/2013/fns-001213|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923182746/http://www.fns.usda.gov/pressrelease/2013/fns-001213|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2013|title=USDA Releases New Report on Trafficking and Announces Additional Measures to Improve Integrity in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program {{!}} USDA-FNS|website=www.fns.usda.gov|access-date=2019-05-21}} The USDA intends to place repeat "water dumping" offenders on the nationwide lifetime SNAP ban list.{{Cite web|url=https://bangordailynews.com/2013/02/20/news/state/new-rules-will-penalize-snap-recipients-for-water-dumping/|title=New rules will penalize food stamp recipients for 'water dumping'|website=Bangor Daily News|date=20 February 2013|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-21}} In August 2019, KTVZ shared a video recorded by a grocery store employee in La Pine of a man dumping contents of soda that had been purchased with Oregon Trail SNAP card. According to the statement provided to the reporter by the employee, it was a common occurrence. Oregon Department of Human Services told KTVZ that it is considered a fraud that may result in a termination of benefits and the state is cracking down on this fraud this year.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ktvz.com/news/video-at-la-pine-store-may-point-to-snap-abuse/1106484785|title=SNAP abuse update: State cracks down on 'container dumping'|last=Zuniga|first=Katie|date=August 6, 2019|work=KTVZ|access-date=September 26, 2019}} Springfield police observed a man and woman emptying bottles in September 2019. When contacted, the woman admitted to police they were emptying water they had purchased on SNAP to cash the containers so they can use the money to purchase fuel. The woman was arrested on outstanding warrants and the police reported the water dumping incident to the Oregon Department of Human Services.{{Cite news|url=https://www.registerguard.com/news/20190914/police-accuse-couple-of-fraud-after-emptying-water-bottles|title=Police accuse couple of fraud after emptying water bottles|last=Deffenbacher|first=Chelsea|date=September 14, 2019|work=The Register-Guard|access-date=September 26, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.springfield-or.gov/ebt-fraud/|title=EBT Fraud|date=September 13, 2019|website=Springfield, Oregon police - press release|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926205204/http://www.springfield-or.gov/ebt-fraud/|archive-date=September 26, 2019|access-date=September 26, 2019}} KTVL reports a store manager they interviewed has seen people purchasing bottled water with SNAP, emptying them out and returning to the store to redeem the containers for cash.{{Cite web|last=Kolliner|first=Kimberly|date=2017-04-04|title=After increase to 10 cents, stores fear increased illegal bottle redemption|url=https://ktvl.com/news/local/local-grocery-fears-for-increased-illegal-bottle-redemption|access-date=2020-11-15|website=KTVL}}

File:Beverage container redemption center in Oregon.jpg

In order to open a redemption center, it must be approved by OLCC.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wweek.com/portland/article-22733-seeking-redemption.html|title=Seeking Redemption|last=Edge|first=Sami|date=June 24, 2014|work=Willamette Week|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510034729/https://www.wweek.com/portland/article-22733-seeking-redemption.html|archive-date=May 10, 2019}} Redemption centers are associated with criminal activity.{{Cite web |last=Aljobory |first=Sana |date=2025-02-23 |title=Portland residents voice concerns over crime and new bottle drop facility plan |url=https://katu.com/news/local/portland-residents-voice-concerns-over-crime-and-new-bottle-drop-facility-plan |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=KATU |language=en}} A site was proposed at southwest 17th Avenue and west Burnside Street in Portland in 2014. OLCC received about 200 comments, most of which were against the center. Stakeholders such as dozens of neighbors and businesses including Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns FC opposed the establishment of the beverage container redemption center. Many objections related to foresight of vagrants and crime related to transients with shopping carts with scavenged cans flocking to the new redemption center. A redemption center was planned in Portland's St. Johns neighborhood in 2024 and this faced a strong opposition by hundreds of St. Johns community members.{{Cite web |last=Aljobory |first=Sana |date=2025-02-23 |title=Portland residents voice concerns over crime and new bottle drop facility plan |url=https://katu.com/news/local/portland-residents-voice-concerns-over-crime-and-new-bottle-drop-facility-plan |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=KATU |language=en}} The city has received over 650 emails voicing opposition to the redemption center.{{Cite web |last1=Sparling |first1=Zane |last2=Dixon Kavanaugh |first2=Shane |date=2024-02-29 |title=2 downtown Portland bottle return locations suspend service to fight fentanyl crisis |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2024/02/officials-cite-fentanyl-crisis-to-close-2-downtown-portland-bottledrop-locations.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Oregonlive |language=en}}

A security guard employed by a company Fortified International working at the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative's Glisan BottleDrop in Northeast Portland stabbed a man on the job while confronting people who were allegedly using drugs in a nearby parking lot. The security guard Arturo Troncoso Jr was arrested and charged with second degree assault.{{Cite news |last=Rawlings |first=Matt |date=Sep 14, 2023 |title=PPB: Teen security guard stabbed man during parking lot altercation |url=https://www.koin.com/news/portland/ppb-teen-security-guard-stabbed-man-during-parking-lot-altercation/ |work=KOIN}} A lawsuit was filed by the victim against the OBRC and the guard's employer Fortified International. {{Cite web |last=Sparling |first=Zane |date=2024-03-09 |title=Lawsuits target Portland BottleDrop after security guard accused of stabbing man |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/03/lawsuits-target-portland-bottledrop-after-security-guard-accused-of-stabbing-man.html |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=oregonlive |language=en}}

A redemption center opened up in May, 2017 in Beaverton.{{Cite web|url=http://www.recyclingadvocates.org/new-bottledrop-center-opens-in-beaverton/|title=New BottleDrop Center Opens in Beaverton|last=Welsh|first=Adrienne|date=May 23, 2017|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-10}} KATU's Andrew Reed reports neighbors report BottleDrop brought in people "who routinely act suspicious and are causing problems" in the neighborhood. A nearby veterinarian interviewed reports BottleDrop "brought a wave of problems to his property". He reports one of his business' security camera was ripped off and had someone break into his practice' bathroom to use drugs. In addition, he reports shopping carts getting left on his property almost daily as well as finding bottles of urine; offering a list of issues of security, noise, odor, traffic, littering, drug paraphernalia and transients. A resident behind the redemption center reported seeing public urination and became suspicious of people he believes to be acting suspiciously near his home.{{Cite news |last=Andrews |first=Reed |date=November 20, 2017 |title=Neighbors object to Beaverton Bottle Drop can return |url=https://katu.com/news/local/neighbors-object-to-can-return-store |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121062209/https://katu.com/news/local/neighbors-object-to-can-return-store |archive-date=November 21, 2017 |access-date=May 9, 2019 |work=KATU}} The dean of students for Jesuit High School commented "Our school is less safe now" referring to the presence of OBRC's BottleDrop redemption center. Supporters of the center were the Oregon Food Bank which participates in its fundraising program and two science teachers from Meadow Park Middle School,{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Peter |date=June 25, 2018 |title=City council considers fate of bottle redemption center |url=https://pamplinmedia.com/bvt/15-news/399240-294129-city-council-considers-fate-of-bottle-redemption-center-pwoff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626014413/https://pamplinmedia.com/bvt/15-news/399240-294129-city-council-considers-fate-of-bottle-redemption-center-pwoff |archive-date=June 26, 2018 |access-date=May 19, 2019 |work=BeavertonValleyTimes}} which is approximately four miles from the site.

In September 2017, KTVZ described that businesses near the Bend BottleDrop Center have "noticed a difference in the neighborhood ever since the Bottle Drop moved in". The news reporter described businesses have seen transient encampments nearby and felt the BottleDrop attracts transients.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ktvz.com/news/centralized-bend-bottle-drop-has-pros-cons/628157154|title=Centralized Bend Bottle Drop has pros, cons|last=Larsen|first=Jacob|date=September 29, 2017|work=KTVZ|quote=Businesses say they have noticed a difference in the neighborhood ever since the Bottle Drop moved in.They feel it attracts transients, and they have seen a lot of people camping nearby.}} In 2017, Bend police responded to 270 calls at the BottleDrop. In four months period leading up to when the story was written on July 16, 2018, two subjects were arrested for offensive littering and 11 were arrested for drug offenses at the BottleDrop property.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/6384617-151/bend-bottledrop-target-of-policing-in-response-to|title=Bend BottleDrop target of policing in response to crime|last=Andrews|first=Garrett|date=July 16, 2018|work=Bend Bulletin|access-date=May 9, 2019}} Bend Police arrested 24 people in 4-months period leading up to July 12, 2018 around the BottleDrop for matters such as drug possession, stealing shopping carts from retailers and offensive littering.{{Cite news|last=Lerten|first=Barney|date=July 12, 2018|title=Bend police arrest 24 in 4-month effort around Bottle Drop|url=https://www.ktvz.com/news/bend-police-arrest-24-in-4-month-effort-around-bottle-drop/767176451|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007000235/https://ktvz.com/news/bend-police-arrest-24-in-4-month-effort-around-bottle-drop/767176451|archive-date=October 7, 2018}} In April 2020, Bend Police again identified the area around Bend BottleDrop as a site of ongoing complaints about drug use, theft, littering, abandoned shopping carts and criminal mischief and conducted a focused enforcement operation resulting in several arrests.{{Cite web|date=2020-04-23|title=Bend Police make drug, theft arrests in area near Bottle Drop|url=https://centraloregondaily.com/bend-police-make-drug-theft-arrests-in-area-near-bottle-drop/|access-date=2021-03-27|website=Central Oregon Daily|language=en-US}}

In June 2018, Damian Mann of Mail Tribune reports nearby business owners say the OBRC's redemption center has been a " magnet for methamphetamine "tweakers" who cash in their bottles and head out to buy drugs and "unsavory behavior". These Medford businesses also said they began noticing vagrancy, theft and vandalism ever since BottleDrop redemption center opened. In 2018, the owner of Southern Oregon Crane in Medford testified to the city council "It’s like living right next to a crack house." in reference to the redemption center.{{Cite news|url=http://mailtribune.com/news/top-stories/tweakers-hurt-businesses|title='Tweakers' hurt businesses|last=Mann|first=Damian|date=2018-06-26|website=Mail Tribune|access-date=2019-05-06}} The Medford redemption center opened in November 2014 and it was the 10th one to open in the state.{{cite web|last=Thomas|first=Teresa|date=November 7, 2014|title=Faster, cleaner bottle return debuts|url=http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141107/News/141109693|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110211509/http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141107/News/141109693|archive-date=November 10, 2014|access-date=1 April 2017}}

On March 27, 2020, Delta Park BottleDrop's landlord TMT Development issued a notice of default citing health and safety concerns. After a long line started to form outside the store, TMT stated BottleDrop had not been managing social distancing requirements relating to COVID-19 pandemic. The notice directed them to comply with 6 ft social distancing rule or face eviction.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/03/28/landlord-threatens-to-evict-bottle-drop-saying-crowds-of-people-lining-up-to-return-cans-are-a-covid-19-hazard/|title=Landlord Threatens to Evict North Portland BottleDrop, Saying Crowds Lining Up to Return Cans Are a COVID-19 Hazard|last=Mesh|first=Aaron|date=March 28, 2020|website=Willamette Week|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-29}}{{Cite news|last=Weil|first=Audrey|url=https://www.kptv.com/news/landlord-threatens-to-evict-n-portland-bottledrop-over-social-distancing-concerns/article_bc9080e4-7311-11ea-8963-67c70181c6a8.html|title=Landlord threatens to evict N. Portland BottleDrop over social distancing concerns|date=March 30, 2020|work=KPTV|access-date=April 4, 2020}} The same weekend, the police were called to the redemption center after a man made death threats.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/04/01/portland-seems-frozen-but-in-these-five-places-the-city-is-busier-than-ever/|title=Portland Seems Frozen. But in These Five Places, the City Is Busier Than Ever.|date=April 1, 2020|work=Willamette Week|access-date=April 4, 2020|quote=Portland police were called to the BottleDrop at Delta Park last weekend after a distraught man made death threats.}} TMT Development's CEO said nearby businesses have complained about BottleDrop's patrons blocking their doors, standing too close together as well as violence, according to The Oregonian.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2020/04/coronavirus-devastates-portland-economy-especially-for-those-with-few-options-to-make-money.html|title=Coronavirus devastates Portland economy -- especially for homeless people and those on the brink of it|last=Harbarger|first=Molly|date=2020-04-04|website=oregonlive|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06|quote=She said neighboring businesses have complained about lines blocking their doors, Bottle Drop patrons standing too close together and violence.}} In April, TMT development installed a fence around a grassy property after drug needles were found.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2020/04/29/tmt-development-recycling-co-op-at-odds-after.html|title=TMT Development, recycling co-op at odds after crowds mass at Portland BottleDrop|last=Bach|first=Jonathan|date=April 29, 2020|website=Portland Business Journal|access-date=2020-04-30|quote=On April 27, TMT placed a fence around the grassy area between a nearby Lowe’s and the redemption center. The fenced area is not part of the property leased by OBRC. At issue are needles that have allegedly been spotted in the grassy area.}} TMT has also deployed armed guards to prevent people from queuing up in the parking lot or in front of other businesses.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/04/29/murmurs-eight-oregon-counties-seek-to-reopen/|title=Murmurs: Eight Oregon Counties Seek to Reopen|date=April 29, 2020|website=Willamette Week|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-30}} This area has been used by BottleDrop's customers, but it is not part of the formal lease agreement.{{Cite web|url=https://www.koin.com/news/health/coronavirus/tensions-rise-with-new-fence-around-portland-bottle-drop/|title=Tensions rise with new fence at Portland bottle drop|date=2020-04-27|website=KOIN.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-30}}{{Cite web|date=April 27, 2020|title=Tensions rise with new fence around Portland bottle drop|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGMFwR3OiAw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/IGMFwR3OiAw |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2020-08-16|website=www.youtube.com|publisher=KOIN 6}}{{cbignore}} TMT's president cites they needed to step in to prevent fights and drug dealing.{{Cite web|title=North Portland BottleDrop Landlord Deploys Armed Guards|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/04/30/north-portland-bottledrop-landlord-deploys-armed-guards/|last=Mesh|first=Aaron|date=April 30, 2020|website=Willamette Week|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-12}} The manager of a sporting goods store interviewed by Willamette Week said he's seen drug deals and fights in front of the OBRC's BottleDrop. The police responded to the Delta Park BottleDrop location 67 times in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Karli |date=2024-02-27 |title=New BottleDrop facility proposed for St. Johns has neighbors on edge |url=https://www.kptv.com/2024/02/27/new-bottledrop-facility-proposed-st-johns-neighborhood/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=KPTV |language=en}} Complaints have been getting filed for years about litter and crime around this site. When Aimee Green of The Oregonian visited OBRC's Delta Park BottleDrop in May 2025, she observed an individual smoking drugs off the spoon in the waiting line.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7ipMrQQI_Y |title=Does Oregon’s cherished Bottle Bill compound Portland’s fentanyl crisis? |date=2025-06-09 |last=The Oregonian |access-date=2025-06-09 |via=YouTube}}

Retailers are required to refund deposit to consumer when they present containers as set forth by the bottle bill. The requirements are dependent on if the store is under 5,000 square foot; or greater than or equal to 5,000 square feet, distance from the redemption center, and the retailer's participation in the program.

Reverse vending machines are optional.. Retailers are required to accept containers whether or not they have a machine or if their machine is working and being busy is not an exception to this obligation.{{Cite web|last=Iboshi|first=Kyle|date=February 28, 2018|title=You have rights when returning bottles and cans|url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/investigations/you-have-rights-when-returning-bottles-and-cans/283-524300041|access-date=2021-03-27|website=KGW|language=en-US}} Retailers are required to accept crushed or damaged containers if the brand and Oregon 10c marking are visible and customers are entitled to ask for a hand count on containers with refund value rejected by the store's machine.

Retailers and redemption centers may refuse containers contaminated with anything other than ordinary dust, the original contents or water. Additionally, when staff have reasonable grounds to suspect the containers were not purchased in Oregon. Redemption centers use individuals arriving in a vehicle with Washington license plates as a reasonable ground to suspect they were purchased outside Oregon unless they can prove the beverages were purchased in Oregon. If there are reasonable such grounds, retailers may request a receipt. The OLCC says retailers should reject containers that have been flattened by a reverse vending machine as it is an indication that they have already been redeemed. OLCC describes cans that have already been through the machine are characterized by "small square indentations or perforations and will be fairly symmetrically crushed" and plastic bottles will have a crushed neck.

Participating retailers over 5,000 square feet within two miles (zone 1) from a redemption center are not required to accept any container. If in zone 2 (up to {{frac|3|1|2}} miles from center), they are required to accept 24 per person, per day. Retailers outside of the zone are required to accept 144. Retailers within the zone that choose not to participate in the redemption center program are required to accept 350 containers per person per day.

They're required to accept 24 containers per person per day if they're within either zone 1 or zone 2 of the redemption center.

Retailers under 5,000 square feet (small shop, convenience stores and like) outside the two zones are allowed to limit the quantity to 50 containers per person per day. They can also limit them to the brand and size they sell.

Within these limitations, retailers are required to accept containers and it is unlawful for retailers to refuse containers unless:

1. Containers are damaged to the extent that the brand cannot be read
2. Contaminated with anything other than ordinary dust, water or contents.

Bottle return machines are provided for retailers' convenience. Even when machines are broken, retailers continue to have legal obligations to accept containers even if they have to hand count them.

In 2025, The Oregonian newspaper found unlawful refusal of containers at convenience store is "pervasive". 7 out of 10 convenience stores contacted by the newspaper refused to accept containers while one location set their own quantity limit arbitrarily. In December 2022, the Market of Choice location in the Central Eastside neighborhood of Portland started refusing bottle returns while fully aware of their obligations under law to process bottle redemptions.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-12 |title=Some Central Eastside businesses no longer accepting bottle returns due to safety concerns |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/businesses-no-longer-accept-returnables-homeless-people-safety-concerns/283-8b270c97-efd2-4b40-b54b-7583d7cf8a32 |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=kgw.com |language=en-US}} Market of Choice chose to be fined and rather than comply with the law.{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Isabella |title=Good Morning, News: Cleveland Cancels Classes After Shooting, Businesses Refuse to Accept Cans, and SCIENCE |url=https://www.portlandmercury.com/good-morning-news/2022/12/13/46242180/good-morning-news-cleveland-cancels-classes-after-shooting-businesses-refuse-to-accept-cans-and-science |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Portland Mercury |language=en}}

State law mandates a payment of redemption value upon presentation of container. Deposit initiator is not required and charging deposit to consumers is voluntary. Bottle deposit is generally initiated by distributors and charged on each transaction. Covered products sold within the State of Oregon must read "OR 10c" for compliance purposes. For redemption purposes, OBRC's BottleDrop service will redeem all covered containers regardless of marking.http://oregon.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=26771 (Oregon Legislature: Bottle Bill 101 House Committee On Energy and Environment 2019-05-02 1PM, 21:10. Jules Bailey, OBRC ) Deposit that is not redeemed is kept by distributors such as Columbia Distributing and Maletis Beverages. Willamette Week's Nigel Jaquiss was uncertain about the environmental benefits but opined "the increase will create a big payday for the companies that distribute beer and soda."{{Cite news|last=Jaquiss|first=Nigel|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2017/02/01/corporate-lobbyists-turned-oregons-iconic-bottle-bill-into-a-sweet-payday-for-their-clients/|title=Corporate Lobbyists Turned Oregon's Iconic Bottle Bill Into a Sweet Payday For Their Clients|date=February 1, 2017|work=Willamette Week|access-date=May 10, 2019}} The Oregon legislature has given the OLCC the authority to enforce and administer the Bottle Bill.{{Cite web|title=2018 Bottle Bill Expansion Overview|url=https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/docs/bottle_bill/2018_Expansion_Overview.pdf|publisher=Oregon Liquor Control Commission|page=foot note}}

In 2016, OLCC refused to release the monetary value of the deposit kept by distributors when Willamette Week asked for it. OLCC responded "we are forbidden from releasing any numbers other than a percentage". The newspaper appealed to the Oregon Department of Justice which ordered the numbers be released as a matter of public record in September 2016. The newspaper said that the beverage industry lobbyist Paul Romain said the distributor wanted the individual companies numbers private. The data showed that distributors were keeping about $30 million annually. OBRC had 450 employees and a budget of $44 million for 2019.{{Cite web|title=OBRC 2019 Annual report|url=https://www.obrc.com/Content/Reports/OBRC%20Annual%20Report%202019.PDF}} During the same year, $29 million of the budget was paid for with unredeemed bottles. Remaining were paid by cash contributions from grocers and distributors.{{Cite web|title=Oregon bottle recycling could return to grocery stores|url=http://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/7178909-151/oregon-bottle-recycling-could-return-to-grocery-stores|last=McLaughlin|first=Kathleen|date=2019-05-23|website=The Bulletin|language=en|access-date=2019-05-27}}

OBRC, a group of deposit initiating distributors administers the collection and transportation of deposit bearing containers.{{Cite web|last=Staub|first=Colin|date=January 29, 2019|title=Dime deposit drives up Oregon return rate|url=https://resource-recycling.com/recycling/2019/01/29/dime-deposit-drives-up-oregon-return-rate/|access-date=September 1, 2019|website=Resource Recycling}} Containers that are recycled through curbside recycling are not counted towards redemption rate statistics and waste haulers do not receive the redemption value.{{Cite web|last=Bertges|first=Cherilyn|date=October 26, 2018|title=Responsible Recycling Task Force Meeting #7|url=https://kingcounty.gov/~/media/depts/dnrp/solid-waste/about/planning/documents/task-force-minutes-2018-10-26.ashx?la=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527022114/https://kingcounty.gov/~/media/depts/dnrp/solid-waste/about/planning/documents/task-force-minutes-2018-10-26.ashx?la=en|archive-date=May 27, 2019|access-date=May 26, 2019}} The value of scrap materials sold is not included in the OBRC's operating budget.{{Cite web|title=Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative 2018 Annual Report|url=https://www.obrc.com/Content/Reports/OBRC%20Annual%20Report%202018.PDF}} OBRC distributes the revenue from selling recyclable materials to distributors that form the cooperative membership. The disbursement amount to individual cooperative member is determined based on proportion of containers and materials returned that are attributed to each member.http://oregon.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=26771 (Oregon Legislature: Bottle Bill 101 House Committee On Energy and Environment 2019-05-02 1PM, 1h6m20s. Jules Bailey, OBRC ) OBRC does not release these figures to OLCC, however the state auditor's report estimated the OBRC disbursed $19.08 million in 2018 and $17.05 million in 2019 to its beverage distributor members from selling scrap materials from returned containers and most of value comes from aluminum.{{Rp|7}} The OBRC reports an annual volume of: {{convert|21.3|e6lb|ST}} of aluminum, {{convert|13.4|e6lb|ST}} of PET, and {{convert|104|e6lb|ST}} of glass.{{Cite web|title=OBRC - Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative|url=https://www.obrc.com/About/FaqsAndStats|website=www.obrc.com}} In 2017, OBRC's expenses were $34 million. $9 million of which was paid by distributors and $25 million was paid by the unredeemed deposit.

The green bags used for BottleDrop drop off is landfilled after the contents are processed.http://oregon.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=26771

House Committee On Energy and Environment 2019-05-02 1PM, 54:00, Jules Bailey(OBRC) All glass bottles that are returned for redemption under the Oregon Bottle Bill are processed at Owens-Brockway plant located in the Cully neighborhood in Portland.{{Cite web|last=Peel|first=Sophie|date=June 10, 2021|title=Oregon's Only Glass Bottle Recycling Plant Faces Million-Dollar Fine|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/city/2021/06/10/oregons-only-glass-bottle-recycling-plant-faces-million-dollar-fine/|access-date=2021-06-10|website=Willamette Week|language=en-US}} This plant was fined $1 million by the Oregon DEQ for environmental violations in June 2021.

Oregon's 1971 Beverage Container Act (ORS 459A.700 to 459A.740)[http://www.bottlebill.org/legislation/usa/oregon.htm www.bottlebill.org] Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 459A. Retrieved 2013-04-24. was the first such legislation passed in the United States.{{cite web|title=About the Bottle Bill|url=http://www.oregon.gov/OLCC/Pages/bottle_bill.aspx|publisher=Oregon Liquor Control Commission|access-date=April 24, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Melissa|date=April 12, 2007|title=Bottled Up|newspaper=Willamette Week|url=http://www.wweek.com/editorial/3305/8332/|access-date=2007-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070527065624/http://www.wweek.com/editorial/3305/8332/|archive-date=May 27, 2007|df=mdy-all}} It went into effect on October 1, 1972.{{cite news|date=November 26, 1972|title=Oregon's Bottle Bill Succeeding|at=Section 1A, p. 20|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|agency=UPI|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1972/11/26/page/48/article/oregons-bottle-bill-succeeding|access-date=2016-08-02}}

Before the formal 1971 Oregon Bottle Bill, Oregon had already set up a less formal bottle return system that most stores and some of the public cooperated with. Inspired by the early Vermont bottle return system before it was repealed, Oregon's limited system paid 1 cent for beer bottles and cans and 3 cents for soda bottles and cans. It was started in the mid-1950s and lasted through the rest of the 50s, throughout the 1960s and into the early 70s until the more formal and expanded Bottle Bill was enacted. The emphasis was on bottles, as bottles were washed and re-used for fresh product sold to the public before health laws were enacted that stopped the re-wash system. And because of the low payout for the return of bottles and cans, and in spite of various anti-litter PSA advertising campaigns on Oregon television, only a relatively small percentage of Oregonians participated in the return of bottles and cans. As a result, many bottles and cans still littered Oregon's highways and scenic areas throughout this entire early bottle-can recycling period.

Richard Chambers, a logging equipment salesman,{{cite news

| url = http://www.thefreelibrary.com/An+idea+worth+bottling.-a088205182

| title = An idea worth bottling

| date = June 30, 2002

| work=The Register-Guard

}} collected litter during his hiking, climbing, and kayaking throughout the state. In 1968, he called Oregon State Representative Paul Hanneman, whom Chambers knew well, after he was inspired by a small newspaper article about British Columbia wanting to ban non-refundable bottles and cans. Chambers wanted a deposit on bottles and cans to encourage people to return them to the store.{{cite book

| last = Walth | title = Fire at Eden's Gate: Tom McCall and the Oregon story | publisher = Oregon Historical Society Press | year = 1994 | isbn = 0-87595-247-X | pages=253–263 }}

Chambers began a letter-writing campaign, using non-ordinary stationery and stamps to draw the attention of his intended audience. Oregon House Bill 1157 was introduced and assigned to the House State and Federal Affairs Committee. Chambers brought in people to testify for the bill, including a river guide to testify about the amount of beverage package litter in the water, and a farmer who lost four cows because of ingestion of glass and metal shards from beverage containers. Beverage container materials companies and bottling companies fought the bill. Hanneman offered the compromise of not banning non-returnables but instead requiring a five-cent deposit as an incentive for return. By a 5 to 4 vote, the bill was sent to the House floor, where it fell 3 votes short of passage, with 27 of 60 members voting for it. Governor Tom McCall had already offered his support for the bill, so Hanneman asked McCall to help sway the House's vote in favor of passage. McCall refused, advising that he did not want a Bottle Bill in that legislative session. McCall planned to endorse the anti-littering campaign espoused by the Keep America Beautiful non-profit in 1970 and wait until 1971 to support the Bottle Bill. It has been written that this delay was intentional on McCall's part to make the bill his. After its defeat, Chambers continued his letter writing campaign.

After McCall refused to back the Bottle Bill in 1969, he sponsored the formation of non-profit SOLV—Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism. In 1971, it was reported that 75% of SOLV's budget was derived from organizations opposing the bottle bill. SOLV also received state funds.

In 1970, McCall initiated his own campaign for the Bottle Bill. Bill Chambers and Don Waggoner (1935–2016){{cite web

| url=http://obits.oregonlive.com/obituaries/oregon/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=180608939

| title=Don Waggoner (1935 - 2016)

| work=Oregon Live

| date = July 8, 2016

| access-date = July 11, 2016

}} worked to get the bill approved.{{cite web

| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2016/07/don-waggoner-leupold-stevens-exec-and-bottle-bill.html

| title=Don Waggoner, Leupold & Stevens exec and 'Bottle Bill' auteur, dies at 81

| work=Portland Biz Journal

| date=July 10, 2016

| access-date = July 11, 2016

| quote=Waggoner's interests led him to the Oregon Environmental Council, for which he served as a point person for a major victory: The "Bottle Bill" that Oregon adopted first in the mid-1970s, well before most other states. Waggoner, who led the effort with Rich Chambers, has said the measure "marked the beginning of the end for America's 'throwaway culture.'"

}} Among opponents of the bill were beverage companies who feared financial strains with the processing of returns.{{Cite web|last=Tucker|first=Kathy|date=2002|title=Tom McCall & the Bottle Ban|url=https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/tom-mccall-amp-the-bottle-ban|access-date=June 10, 2021|website=Oregon Historical Society}}

The new bill, House Bill 1036, banned non-returnables and placed a five-cent{{cite web

| url = http://www.govoregon.org/bottlebilltext.html

| title = Original Bottle Bill Text

| year = 1971

| publisher = State of Oregon

| access-date = 2009-03-03

}} deposit on bottles and cans containing beer, malt beverage, mineral and soda waters and carbonated soft drinks. The law went into effect on October 1, 1972. The law mandated beer, malt liquor and carbonated soft drinks in refillable containers that were certified for use by multiple manufacturers to have a minimum of 2 cent per container deposit. Those beverages in other types of containers were required to have a 5 cent refund value.{{Cite web|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OregonBottleBill.pdf|title=Oregon's Bottle Bill: the First Six Months|last=Claussen|first=Eileen|date=1973}}

Prior to the Bottle Bill becoming enacted, about 51% of soft drinks were sold in refillable glass bottles, 41% in cans and 8% in non-refillable glass bottles. In December 1971, the OLCC estimated about 35% of beer sold in Oregon were sold in cans. In December 1972, 99.5% of beer was sold in bottles with the remainder being sold in cans.

In March 1973, all soft drinks sold in Oregon were in refillable bottles, except for less than 1% that were sold in cans.

In March 1973 prices, beer cited as an example cost $1.58 for a six pack including 30 cent deposit in non-refillable containers and $1.17 for 6 in refillable bottles which included a 12 cent deposit.

In 1974, the state reported that litter of beverage containers had been by reduced by 83 percent.{{Cite news | first = Jann | last = Mitchell | title = Happy Birthday Bottle Bill | date = October 1, 1992 | newspaper = The Oregonian | pages = F01 }}

=== 1990s to present ===

In 1996, voters rejected a ballot measure that would have extended the bottle bill. In 2005, Republican Party Representative Vicki Berger (daughter of Chambers) introduced another bill to extend the bottle bill, but it was defeated in the Senate.

On June 7, 2007, Governor Ted Kulongoski signed Senate Bill 707 into law, which added water bottles to the refund law. The law went into effect January 1, 2009.{{cite news

|title = Governor signs updated bottle bill

|first = Toby

|last = Van Fleet

|work = Portland Tribune

|url = http://thetribonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=118124104523681400

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190414222145/http://thetribonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=118124104523681400

|archive-date = April 14, 2019

|date = June 7, 2007

|access-date = April 24, 2013

}}{{Cite news|title=House OKs bottle-bill expansion|last=Casper|first=Beth|date=May 25, 2007|work=Statesman Journal}} Of the nine states that had bottle bill laws at that time, only Maine, California, and Hawaii included water bottles.{{cite news|first=Brad |last=Dain |title=Ore. lawmakers back expanded bottle bill |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=May 25, 2007 |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1110AP_Bottle_Bill.html |access-date=May 27, 2007 }} {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

The 2007 legislature also created a task force, charged with making recommendations for further updating of the Bottle Bill to the 2009 legislature. Updates under consideration in the late 2000s included adding products like wine and juice bottles, and increasing the refund amount from 5 cents.{{cite news

|title = Task force debates Bottle Bill changes

|first = David

|last = Steves

|work = The Register-Guard

|date = June 14, 2008

|url = http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=112647&sid=4&fid=1

|access-date = 2008-07-13

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120208053255/http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=112647&sid=4&fid=1

|archive-date = 2012-02-08

|url-status = dead

}}

The Container Recycling Institute estimates that 125 million disposable water bottles were sold in Oregon in 2005, more than the number of soft drink bottles, and the recycling rate for water bottles was 32 percent, compared with 82 percent for beer and soft drink bottles.{{cite web|first=Mike |last=Verespej |title=Expanded bottle recycling bill likely in Oregon |publisher=Container Recycling Institute |date=March 1, 2007 |url=http://container-recycling.org/mediafold/newsarticles/bottlebills/2007/OR-3-1-ExpandedBottleRecyling.htm |access-date=May 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929020835/http://container-recycling.org/mediafold/newsarticles/bottlebills/2007/OR-3-1-ExpandedBottleRecyling.htm |archive-date=2007-09-29 }} Container Recycling Institute is a research and advocacy group in support of the bottle bill.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/04/business/plastic-recycling-bottle-bills.html|title=Beverage Companies Embrace Recycling, Until It Costs Them|last=Corkery|first=Michael|date=2019-07-05|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-09-08|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.container-recycling.org/index.php/issues/bottle-bills|title=Bottle Bills|publisher=Container Recycling Institute|access-date=September 8, 2019|quote=The Container Recycling Institute is one of the country's foremost advocates of beverage container deposit legislation (commonly known as bottle bills).}}

OLCC approved redemption centers run by distributors on an experimental basis in early 2010. Two locations were opened, one in Wood Village and another in Oregon City. By April 2017, there were 16 redemption centers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.co.yamhill.or.us/content/ycsw-ideas-home|title=YCSW Ideas For Home {{!}} Yamhill County, Oregon|date=April 26, 2017|website=www.co.yamhill.or.us|access-date=2019-05-06}} The first redemption center intended to replace redemption at retail stores opened in Wood Village in September 2010 and it included bag drop off service as well.{{Cite news|url=https://pamplinmedia.com/component/content/article?id=13181|title=Many happy returns|last=Hall|first=Calvin|date=September 29, 2011|work=Gresham Outlook|access-date=January 21, 2020}} For decades, bottle returns were done exclusively through retail stores. In 2008, Oregon and Michigan were the only bottle deposit states without a redemption center and also had the highest redemption rates.{{Cite web |last=Casey |first=Jerry |date=2008-05-18 |title=New plan for Oregon's bottles: "Redemption centers" replace stores |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/05/new_plan_for_bottles_redemptio.html |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=oregonlive |language=en}}

On April 1, 2017, the refund value was increased to 10 cents per container from 5 cents per container.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2016/08/oregon_bottle_deposit_will_go.html|title=Oregon bottle deposit will go from a nickel to a dime next year|last=Oregonian/OregonLive|first=Talia Richman {{!}} The|date=2016-08-02|website=oregonlive|language=en|access-date=2020-02-02}} This was the first increase in the history of Oregon Bottle Bill.{{cite press release|title=Oregon Bottle Bill Redemption Value Increases to 10 cents Beginning April 1, 2017|url=https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/docs/news/news_releases/2016/nr_07_22_16_Commission_Bottle%20Bill%2010%20Cents.pdf|publisher=Oregon Liquor Control Commission|access-date=August 2, 2016|date=July 22, 2016}}{{cite news|last=Pursinger|first=Geoff|title=Oregon bottle redemption rate to double|url=http://pamplinmedia.com/ht/117-hillsboro-tribune-news/316029-195231-oregon-bottle-deposit-to-rise-to-10-cents-starting-spring-2017|access-date=August 2, 2016|work=Hillsboro Tribune|date=July 29, 2016|orig-year=published online July 22|pages=A1, A4}} The change was triggered by a provision of state law enacted by the legislature in 2011,{{cite news|last=Richman|first=Talia|title=Bottle bill set to double its deposit|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2016/08/oregon_bottle_deposit_will_go.html|access-date=August 7, 2016|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=August 5, 2016|orig-year=published online August 2|page=1}} which called for refund value increase to 10 cents if the return rate for containers fell below 80 percent for two consecutive years. The return rate was 64.5% in 2015 and 68.3% in 2014. The return rate is not an indication of recycling rate. Containers recycled through curbside recycling is not accounted in the return rate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2015/08/bottle_bill_may_have_outlived.html|title=Bottle bill may have outlived its usefulness: Editorial|last=The Oregonian Editorial Board|date=2015-08-04|website=oregonlive.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-29}}

The next change came into effect in January 2018, when additional categories of beverages were required to have a deposit.

2019: Modification to include all kombucha and hard seltzer 3 liters and under into covered beverages. (SB 247).{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregon.gov/OLCC/Pages/bottle_bill.aspx|title=FAQ|quote=, all hard seltzers and kombuchas are included in the Bottle Bill and have an Oregon 10-cent refund value if in metal, glass, or plastic bottles or cans in sizes 3 liters or less.}} SB 522 was signed into law making fraudulent redemption of out of state container a violation punishable by a fine up to $250.{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=Chapter 297 |url=https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/lawsstatutes/2019orlaw0297.pdf |website=Oregon Legislature}}{{Cite web |date=May 3, 2023 |title=Can Idahoans redeem deposits from Oregon's bottle bill? |url=https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/208/can-idahoans-redeem-deposits-from-oregon-bottle-recycling-bill/277-75af4124-c35b-4a4f-b40d-f3b05624d651 |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=ktvb.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Audit: 50 years on, Oregon can do more to boost environmental effects of bottle deposit |url=https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2020/11/10/audit-oregon-bill-environmental-goals-recycling-center/6229830002/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=Statesman Journal |language=en-US}}

Also in 2019, dealer redemption center was enacted under SB 93, which was sponsored by OBRC.{{Cite web |last=McLaughlin |first=Kathleen |date=2019-05-23 |title=Oregon bottle recycling could return to grocery stores |url=https://www.bendbulletin.com/business/oregon-bottle-recycling-could-return-to-grocery-stores/article_ec8354af-e77f-593a-84e3-350be7da1799.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240318082751/https://www.bendbulletin.com/business/oregon-bottle-recycling-could-return-to-grocery-stores/article_ec8354af-e77f-593a-84e3-350be7da1799.html |archive-date=18 March 2024 |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=The Bulletin |language=en}} Dealer redemption centers are stores that have partnered with OBRC to allow containers to be dropped off in bulk in bags from 8AM-8PM and allowing partnered stores to limit individual container returns to 24 per day.{{Cite web |date=October 2022 |title=RETAILER GUIDELINES FOR SELLING BEVERAGES UNDER OREGON'S BOTTLE BILL |url=https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/Docs/bottle_bill/Bottle-Bill-Retailer-Guidelines.pdf |website=OLCC |pages=8}}{{Cite web |title=Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission |url=https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/viewSingleRule.action?ruleVrsnRsn=266502 |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=secure.sos.state.or.us}} The service must be provided without charge and redemption value paid within one week bags being dropped off.{{Cite web |title=459A.741 Dealer redemption centers. |url=https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors459A.html |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Oregon Legislature}}

January 2020: The act of returning containers fraudulent became a violation effective January 1, 2020. The OLCC announced the addition of 4oz to 1.5 liter sized Kefir, drinkable yogurt, milk-based smoothies and other beverages which are mostly milk or milk substitute with additions of other ingredients. Milk and plant-based milk substitutes are not covered,{{Cite web|url=https://ktvz.com/news/oregon-northwest/2019/12/20/oregon-bottle-bill-changes-additions-coming-in-new-year/|title=Oregon Bottle Bill changes, additions coming in new year|last=Lerten|first=Barney|date=2019-12-21|website=KTVZ|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-24}} however, OLCC withdrew the decision{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregon.gov/OLCC/Pages/bottle_bill.aspx|title=The Bottle Bill & Redemption Centers|website=OLCC Bottle Bill|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212030600/https://www.oregon.gov/OLCC/Pages/bottle_bill.aspx|archive-date=2020-02-12}} on February 5, 2020 out of concerns about the effects of milk residue on process equipment. In the 2018 expansion, Kefir was exempt from having a refund value.

A 2020 audit conducted by the state recommends shifting some or all of unclaimed deposit to the state. Throughout the history of Oregon Bottle Bill, these funds have been kept by the beverage industry.{{Cite web|date=November 2020|title=Oregon Has an Opportunity to Modernize Groundbreaking Bottle Bill on Its 50th Anniversary (Report 2020-36)|url=https://sos.oregon.gov/audits/Documents/2020-36.pdf|publisher=Audits Division, State of Oregon}} The 2020 Secretary of State audit recommends all or portions of unredeemed deposit to be remitted to the state for recycling or environmental program as done in all states with bottle deposit except Oregon and Iowa instead of letting OBRC keep it.

Bottle Bill was expanded in June 2022 to include wine in cans, which will become redeemable starting on July 1, 2025.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Oregon |url=https://www.bottlebill.org/index.php/current-and-proposed-laws/usa/oregon |access-date=2022-07-10 |website=Container Recycling Institute |language=en-GB}}

Bottle redemption enforcement has been suspended twice in the history of Oregon Bottle Bill.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-06 |title=Other Grocers Want the Same Bottle Return Exemption Granted to One Safeway in Oregon |url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/03/05/other-grocers-want-the-same-bottle-return-exemption-granted-to-one-safeway-in-oregon/ |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=Willamette Week |language=en}}

During a part of the COVID-19 pandemic, OLCC temporarily modified the retailer requirements several times. On March 15, 2020, OLCC allowed grocery stores to stop accepting bottle returns during the COVID-19 pandemic through at least the end of May 2020;{{Cite web|date=29 April 2020|title=Most Portland stores stop accepting bottle returns; TriMet creates free shuttle to bottle drop|url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/trimet-shuttle-can-returns-bottle-deposit-obrc/283-e64a7313-38d0-4de0-8375-6dc732ecbf21|access-date=2020-04-30|website=KGW|quote=in video}}{{Cite web|last=Harbarger|first=Molly|date=2020-04-17|title=Bottle return agency turns headquarters into additional return center to help with coronavirus closures|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/2020/04/bottle-return-agency-turns-headquarters-into-additional-return-center-to-help-with-coronavirus-closures.html|access-date=2020-04-26|website=oregonlive|language=en}} The Bottle Bill reprieve was amended on May 22, so that enforcement begins two weeks after the county in which the store is located in has entered phased 1 of reopening schedule.{{Cite web|date=2020-05-22|title=OLCC modifies bottle return guidelines|url=https://katu.com/news/coronavirus/olcc-modifies-bottle-return-guidelines|access-date=2020-06-01|website=KATU}} Enforcement was re-suspended in counties that reverted to baseline phase. A modification was made to bottle bill requirements during phase 1 reopening allowing retailers that are not open 24 hours a day to limit bottle return hours to 8AM to 6PM. For retailers that are open 24 hours, they were allowed to limit to 7AM to 11PM.{{Cite web|date=August 2020|title=Oregon Bottle Bill FAQ August 2020 version|url=https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/docs/bottle_bill/bottle_bill_faqs.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820221601/https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/docs/bottle_bill/bottle_bill_faqs.pdf|archive-date=2020-08-20}} Bottle bill enforcement was suspended in March 2020, and again on November 18, 2020. The suspension remained in place in individual counties until COVID-19 risk category as defined by Oregon Health Authority is no longer "extreme" or "high". Enforcement resumes five days after the respective county is classified as "low" or "medium" by the Oregon Health Authority and suspension is resumed if the status reverts to high or extreme.{{Cite web|last=Perry|first=Douglas|date=2020-11-17|title=Bottle Bill redemptions are part of statewide coronavirus 'freeze'; Oregonians encouraged to store bottles for time being|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/11/bottle-bill-redemptions-are-part-of-statewide-coronavirus-freeze-oregonians-encouraged-to-store-bottles-for-time-being.html|access-date=2020-11-18|website=oregonlive|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=November 16, 2020|title=OLCC Temporarily Halts Enforcement of Retailer Bottle Bill Redemption Requirements during "Statewide Freeze"|url=https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/Docs/news/news_releases/2020/nr_111620_BottleBill_Statewide_Freeze.pdf}}{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=December 4, 2020|title=OLCC will not enforce Bottle Bill Redemption Requirements for stores in counties in extreme and high risk levels|work=Madras Pioneer|url=https://pamplinmedia.com/msp/129-news/489972-394039-olcc-will-not-enforce-bottle-bill-redemption-requirements-for-stores-in-counties-in-extreme-and-high-risk-levels|access-date=January 27, 2021}} Retailers in counties classified as "low" or "medium" were allowed to a reduce acceptance hours to 8AM to 6PM for stores that are not open 24 hours and 7AM to 11PM for stores open 24 hours.{{Cite web|date=March 2, 2021|title=More Stores in "Low" and "Medium" Risk counties to resume redeeming beverage containers|url=https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/Docs/news/news_releases/2021/nr030221-Bottle-Bill-Enforcement-Resumption-Status.pdf|publisher=Oregon Liquor Control Commission}} All pandemic related variance to the Bottle Bill requirements ended on July 5, 2021.{{Cite web|last=Haley|first=Bryant|date=July 1, 2021|title=Bottle Bill redemption resumes statewide Stores required to redeem containers starting July 5th|url=https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/Docs/news/news_releases/2021/nr070121-BB-Redemption-Resumption.pdf|website=OLCC News Release}}

Portland, Multnomah County and State officials said drug addicts are using bottle redemption as a source of funding to buy fentanyl.{{Cite news |first1= Blair |last1=Best |first2=Alex |last2=Jensen |date=2024-02-29 |title=2 downtown Portland bottle return locations close to curb fentanyl use |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/downtown-portland-bottle-drop-locations-close-curb-fentanyl-use/283-ffdc9259-cf92-44a1-8135-ab0061e35cdc |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=KGW|language=en-US |quote="Officials carrying out the tri-government fentanyl emergency.... Officials said people return bottles, then use the money to buy fentanyl"}} Oregon governor Tina Kotek and local officials ordered the suspension of bottle redemption at two downtown Portland stores as part of the "90 day fentanyl emergency" to address neighborhood impact such as drugs, crime and homelessness among other issues.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-02 |title=Former Fred Meyer CEO Ken Thrasher on continued bottle bill scrutiny |url=https://www.koin.com/nwpolitics/former-fred-meyer-ceo-ken-thrasher-on-continued-bottle-bill-scrutiny/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=KOIN.com |language=en-US |quote=This is due to drugs, crime, homelessness and other issues. Making things worse, Plaid Pantries are open 24-7.}} The suspension was originally for March 2024, but it was extended until May 1, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-29 |title=Kotek Will Extend Bottle Bill Exemption for Downtown Safeway and Plaid Pantry 30 More Days |url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/03/29/kotek-will-extend-bottle-bill-exemption-for-downtown-safeway-and-plaid-pantry-30-more-days/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Willamette Week |language=en}} Redeeming cans to obtain money to purchase drugs is part of the problem. Downtown residents have complained that retailers being obligated to issue cash refund attracted people who use the money from bottle redemption to buy drugs and use nearby. The two stores issued exemptions were downtown Safeway and a Plaid Pantry location close-by. A week into the exemption, other retailers started seeking exemption as well.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-06 |title=Other Grocers Want the Same Bottle Return Exemption Granted to One Safeway in Oregon |url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/03/05/other-grocers-want-the-same-bottle-return-exemption-granted-to-one-safeway-in-oregon/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Willamette Week |language=en}}

Effective July 1st 2025, canned wine, cider over 8.5% alcohol by volume, sake and mead are included in the Oregon bottle bill. Retailers are also allowed to limit all bottle redemption hours to 8AM to 8PM.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-07 |title=Fentanyl Threatens Oregon’s Cherished Bottle Bill |url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/02/07/fentanyl-threatens-oregons-cherished-bottle-bill/ |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Willamette Week |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-06-06 |title=OLCC Ratifies Bottle Bill Changes |url=https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2025/06/06/olcc-ratifies-bottle-bill-changes/ |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Willamette Week |language=en}} Previously, they were required to accept bottle returns whenever they're open for business. Another change is the creation of non-profit operated "alternative redemption centers" in Portland city limits (or cities with 500,000 or more population) intended to serve can gatherers who redeem cans daily or almost daily. Large retailers in 3.5 mile radius of "alternative center" can choose between hosting a bag drop off location or paying towards funding the "alternative redemption" center.{{Cite web |title=Oregon governor signs bottle bill update for ‘alternative’ redemption centers {{!}} Waste Dive |url=https://www.wastedive.com/news/oregon-governor-signs-bottle-bill-alternative-redemption-centers-obrc-peoples-depot/749930/ |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=www.wastedive.com |language=en-US}}

Under temporary rules that went into effect on June 4, 2025, retailers may restrict bottle returns to the hours of 8AM to 8PM and grocers in City of Portland who accept green bags are exempt from having to accept loose containers.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-06-06 |title=Oregon stores can now opt out of accepting late-night bottle drops |url=https://www.kptv.com/2025/06/06/changes-oregons-bottle-bill/ |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=KPTV |language=}}

Deposits on refillable glass bottles were the norm well before the 1930s, at which time the disposable steel beverage can began to slowly displace glass. By 1960, almost half of U.S. beer was in cans, while only five percent of soft drinks were not in bottles.{{cite web|title=What is a bottle bill?|url=http://www.bottlebill.org/about/whatis.htm|work=Bottle Bill Resource Guide|publisher=Container Recycling Institute|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804054420/http://www.bottlebill.org/about/whatis.htm|archive-date=August 4, 2008|access-date=2008-07-07}}

Vermont passed the first "bottle bill" in 1953, but it only banned non-refillable bottles and did not introduce a deposit system. It expired in 1957 after beer industry lobbying.

British Columbia enacted North America's oldest beverage deposit system in 1970.{{cite web|title=British Columbia|url=http://www.bottlebill.org/legislation/canada/britishcolumbia.htm|publisher=Container Recycling Institute|access-date=2008-07-07}}

Beverage containers constituted 58% of litter in Kentucky in 1999.{{cite web|title=Bottle Bill Myths and Facts|url=http://www.bottlebill.org/about/mythfact.htm|work=Bottle Bill Resource Guide|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005010417/http://www.bottlebill.org/about/mythfact.htm#src5|archive-date=October 5, 2008|access-date=2008-07-07}} citing {{citation|title=Litter in Kentucky: A View from the Field.|date=May 1999|publisher=Solid Waste Coordinators of Kentucky}}

States which have adopted bottle deposits have reduced litter as much as 64%.Bottle Bill Myths citing {{citation|title=34-64% in Maine|date=1980-12-11|publisher=U.S. General Accounting Office/Comptroller General of the United States}}

The container deposit system cost averages 1.53 cents per container (versus 1.25 cents for other collection systems) and are more than two and a half times more effective at recycling containers.Bottle Bill Myths citing {{citation|title=Understanding Beverage Container Recycling: A Value Chain Assessment Prepared for the Multi-Stakeholder Recovery Project|date=2002-01-16|pages=Table ES-1|publisher=Global Green USA}}

By 1968, beer and soda companies were responsible for 173 million bottles and 263 million cans each year in Oregon.{{cite web|title=Oregon Bottle Bill - A Brief History|url=http://www.recyclingadvocates.org/bottle_bill_history.htm|publisher=Recycling Advocates|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704182758/http://www.recyclingadvocates.org/bottle_bill_history.htm|archive-date=2008-07-04|access-date=2008-07-13}}

OBRC is the industry steward for the bottle bill and receives all of unclaimed deposit.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-10|title=Partnership's first year recycles 1.23M bottles, cans, saves $123K for higher ed|url=https://ktvz.com/community/community-billboard/2020/11/10/partnerships-first-year-recycles-1-23m-bottles-cans-saves-123k-for-higher-ed/|access-date=2020-11-13|website=KTVZ|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Oregon's iconic Bottle Bill program gets eyed for a 50th anniversary update|url=https://www.opb.org/article/2020/11/10/oregon-bottle-bill-program-50-year-anniversary/|access-date=2020-11-13|website=opb}} It was formed in 2009 through the merger of Beverage Recyclers of Oregon and Container Recovery Inc.{{Cite web|last=Bach|first=Jonathan|date=Oct 30, 2020|title=Oregon bottle drop returns headed for record-busting year|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2020/10/30/oregon-bottle-returns-on-track-to-outpace-2019.html|access-date=2020-11-30|website=Portland Business Journals|publisher=Portland Business Journal}} It represents 96% of beverage distributors in Oregon and operates the BottleDrop redemption centers and green bag program. It is the primary stakeholder of the Oregon Bottle Bill.{{Rp|3}} While the OLCC oversees the bottle bill, OLCC's oversight over OBRC is limited.{{Rp|5}} San Francisco's bag return program BottleBank is based on its green bag system used in Oregon.{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Megan |last2= |last3= |last4= |last5= |last6= |title=San Francisco’s BottleBank aims to help in a state with limited container deposit options |url=https://www.wastedive.com/news/california-crv-our-planet-bottle-bill-pilot-calrecycle-grant-funding/728010/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Waste Dive |language=en-US}}

• Container deposit legislation in the United States
• Environment of the United States

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.oregon.gov/deq/recycling/Pages/Bottle-Bill.aspx State of Oregon's website about the law]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L9UdwNRs9I 30 minutes of a variety of 1967 television coverage during the Oregon Bottle Bill debates] collected by the Oregon Historical Society Research Library
• https://web.archive.org/web/20080910085315/http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/factsheets/sw/ExpandedBottleBill.pdf
• [https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/Docs/bottle_bill/Included_Beverages.pdf examples of included beverages]
• [https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/Docs/bottle_bill/NotIncluded_Beverages.pdf examples of excluded beverages]

{{Oregon Modern History}}

{{Oregon legislation}}

Category:1971 in American law

Category:1971 in Oregon

Category:1971 in the environment

Category:Container deposit legislation

Category:Environment of Oregon

Category:Oregon law

Category:Recycling in the United States

Category:Waste legislation in the United States