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Oregon Liquor Control Commission
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The Bottle Bill & Redemption Centers

Hot Topics - What's New with the Bottle Bill

With the passage of Senate Bill 247, effective September 29, 2019, 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. Manufacturers have until January 1, 2021 to ensure that OR 10¢ is clearly indicated on hard seltzer and kombucha containers. Even if the containers do not have OR 10¢ on them, a deposit may be charged on them and they are redeemable.
 
Effective January 1, 2020, ORS 459A.718 requires all distributors and importers to register the beverage containers they sold and redeemed in Oregon with the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC) every calendar year.  A letter explaining the change was mailed to many businesses that have the ability to sell beverages that have an Oregon refund value.   
 
Rulemaking is underway to make legislative and technical changes to Division 20 of Chapter 845, Beverage Containers and Redemption Centers.  A public hearing will be held at OLCC offices on November 20, 2019 at 2:00 PM.  Public comment will close on November 22, 2019 at 11:55 PM. 

You can sign up for email alerts to be notified about rule changes and other changes to the Bottle Bill by clicking this link. 
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About the Bottle Bill






  

Oregon’s Bottle Bill establishes laws that require stores and distributors to accept certain empty beverage containers and pay a 10-cent refund value for each container.  All stores under 5,000 square feet in size must accept container returns.  Most stores 5,000 or more square feet in size must also accept container returns.  Stores that do not have to accept container returns are listed in the Zone 1 column in the Redemption Centers - Complete List found below.  Stores that must accept container returns must accept them on all days and at all hours they are open, whether they have reverse vending machines for accepting the containers or not.

 

 

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Customer Feedback Form

Please let us know if you have questions or concerns about current Bottle Bill services, including issues with returning your beverage containers to retailers or BottleDrop Redemption Centers.

Customer Feedback Form

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Beverages

Most beverages that are sold in sealed glass, metal, and plastic cans and bottles have an Oregon refund value if in two different sizes ranges.  

Included Beverages

Not Included Beverages

 
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Bottle Bill FAQs

Bottle Bill FAQs

 

Do you have additional questions? Email OLCC.BottleBill@oregon.gov

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Bottle Bill Checklist for License Applicants and Licensees

Bottle Bill Checklist


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Bottle Bill Inquiries for Retailers and Businesses

Retailers in Oregon who sell or offer for sale beverages included in the Bottle Bill must in most cases accept container returns. Use this form to provide information on your business so OLCC staff can determine if you must accept container returns, and if you must how many and what types. Staff will email you the sign appropriate for your business, along with other information for helping you to be in compliance with Oregon’s Bottle Bill.

Bottle Bill Inquiries for Retailers and Businesses

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Redemption Center Information

Redemption Centers

Applications Received & Public Notices 

There are currently no Public Notices or Applications for Redemption Centers.
 
 
 
Redemption Center Application Form
Any person may establish a redemption center, subject to the approval of the OLCC, at which people may return empty beverage containers and receive payment of the 10-cent refund value of those containers.
Redemption centers must provide a convenient service for the return of empty beverage containers. Redemption centers must also serve participating grocery stores that are 5,000 or more square feet in size and located in up to two convenience zones. Each person responsible for the operation of one or more redemption centers shall pay an annual registration fee of $3,000 per redemption center to the OLCC.
To request approval as a Beverage Container Redemption Center, please complete the Redemption Center Application.   
 
Mail the completed form and attachments to: OLCC, Bottle Bill Program, 9079 SE McLoughlin Blvd., Portland, OR 97222 or email to OLCC.BottleBill@oregon.gov.   

 

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Beverage Container Return Data

ORS 459A.718(6)(a) states that by August 1 of each calendar year, the OLCC shall calculate the previous calendar year’s percentage of beverage containers returned for the refund value for each distributor cooperative and for each distributor/importer that does not participate in a distributor cooperative. The OLCC shall carry out the calculation separately for glass, metal, and plastic containers and shall post the percentages on the website.
 
In 2019, the Oregon Legislature amended ORS 459A.718 to require a distributor cooperative that serves a majority of the dealers in Oregon to maintain a registry of all beverage containers sold and redeemed in the state.  The Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC) is the only distributor cooperative to serve a majority of the dealers in Oregon.  Distributors and importers will now report their information to OBRC no later than April 1 of each year, and OBRC will report those numbers to OBRC by July 1.

 

November 4, 2019 Letter

2018 Beverage Container Return Data

2017 Beverage Container Return Data

2016 Beverage Container Return Data

2015 Beverage Container Return Data

2014 Beverage Container Return Data

2013 Beverage Container Return Data

2012 Beverage Container Return Data

 



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For information on the environmental impacts of the Bottle Bill.
DEQ (Oregon Department of Environmental Quality)

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Subscribe for Bottle Bill Updates

Subscribe to OLCC's email alerts to receive updates on Oregon's Bottle Bill.  Click the envelope below to subscribe! 
 
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For more information

Becky Voelkel, OLCC Bottle Bill Program
503-872-5132 
Toll free: 800-452-6522 (ext. 25132)
OLCC.BottleBill@oregon.gov


 


 

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