Spring Break
Bottleneck for bottle bill
Editorial Board
Issue date: 5/7/09 Section: Forum
A proposed expansion of the Oregon bottle bill was sent to committee Wednesday as legislators worked to reassess impact of the bill.
The Oregon Beverage Container Act was enacted in 1971 and was expanded in 2007, according to the state. Currently, the state provides deposit refunds on beer, malt, carbonated soft drink and mineral water containers.
For the small cost of a nickel (on the buying side), you are rewarded for returning your bottle for recycling (on the wait-in-line-and-hand-sanitize side).
In 2007, legislators added non-carbonated water containers to the list, capping off an already-successful bottle bill.
The 2007 expansion also set up a task force to look into creating new bottle redemption centers and upping the deposit.
Five cents per drink, 60 cents per 12-pack. As students, we'll be bringing those bottles back. Add water to the mix, especially when companies like Costco sell cases of the stuff, and we'll be recycling.
The new proposal suggests upping the deposit to 10 cents if the recycling rate dips below 80 percent in 2017.
The bill also includes coffee, juice and sports drink containers under umbrella of acceptable containers.
But, rather than pass the bill on to the Senate for further approval, the House of Representatives sent the bill to the revenue committee.
Revenue?
That's right. Our legislators have sent this good-willed expansion to a committee that will assess the revenue potential for the state.
The State of Oregon is facing a $4 billion deficit while its bottle-buying citizens face the biggest recession in recent memory.
The state believes that it can extract $20 million to $30 million in unclaimed deposits.
We believe the state needs to put a cork in its expectations.
As unemployment rates reach all-time highs, we aren't sure that the state should expect leftover deposit dollars.
The Oregon Bottle Bill was molded in the spirit of recycling and sustainability. A prediction of leftover money, by nature, is not a renewable resource.
Where does the money come from when the state has committed our resources and Oregonians are returning bottles at a higher rate than ever before?
This plan is not sustainable or renewable and it also violates the spirit of this very important act.
Our state is planning to tap credit on just another type of plastic.
Maybe we can hold a bottle drive.
Editorials serve as a means for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale or diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.
The Oregon Beverage Container Act was enacted in 1971 and was expanded in 2007, according to the state. Currently, the state provides deposit refunds on beer, malt, carbonated soft drink and mineral water containers.
For the small cost of a nickel (on the buying side), you are rewarded for returning your bottle for recycling (on the wait-in-line-and-hand-sanitize side).
In 2007, legislators added non-carbonated water containers to the list, capping off an already-successful bottle bill.
The 2007 expansion also set up a task force to look into creating new bottle redemption centers and upping the deposit.
Five cents per drink, 60 cents per 12-pack. As students, we'll be bringing those bottles back. Add water to the mix, especially when companies like Costco sell cases of the stuff, and we'll be recycling.
The new proposal suggests upping the deposit to 10 cents if the recycling rate dips below 80 percent in 2017.
The bill also includes coffee, juice and sports drink containers under umbrella of acceptable containers.
But, rather than pass the bill on to the Senate for further approval, the House of Representatives sent the bill to the revenue committee.
Revenue?
That's right. Our legislators have sent this good-willed expansion to a committee that will assess the revenue potential for the state.
The State of Oregon is facing a $4 billion deficit while its bottle-buying citizens face the biggest recession in recent memory.
The state believes that it can extract $20 million to $30 million in unclaimed deposits.
We believe the state needs to put a cork in its expectations.
As unemployment rates reach all-time highs, we aren't sure that the state should expect leftover deposit dollars.
The Oregon Bottle Bill was molded in the spirit of recycling and sustainability. A prediction of leftover money, by nature, is not a renewable resource.
Where does the money come from when the state has committed our resources and Oregonians are returning bottles at a higher rate than ever before?
This plan is not sustainable or renewable and it also violates the spirit of this very important act.
Our state is planning to tap credit on just another type of plastic.
Maybe we can hold a bottle drive.
Editorials serve as a means for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale or diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
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