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The Bottle Bill & Redemption Centers
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Article Content
COVID-19 Updates
OLCC has not been enforcing the requirement for retailers to accept empty beverage container returns, with the current period of non-enforcement running through May 31. Now that the Governor’s Phase I for reopening counties has been announced, OLCC will link compliance enforcement to the phase a county is in (Baseline, Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3).
Two weeks after a county enters Phase 1 of the Governor’s plan to reopen Oregon, retailers in that county will be required to resume accepting empty beverage containers from customers, both through their reverse vending machines and by hand count. The number of empty containers retailers are required to accept remains the same as prior to the non-enforcement, either 24, 50, or 144 containers per person per day. Stores may limit hours from 8 AM to 6 PM except for 24-hour stores, which may limit their hours from 7 AM to 11 PM. OLCC will continue to not enforce the requirement to accept container returns for retailers in counties that have not entered Phase 1 until the time that they enter Phase 1.
Many people have been saving their empty beverage containers, and while we want to give customers a chance to return their accumulated containers, we also don’t want to cause unsafe conditions. Our industry partners, including Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative and Northwest Grocers Association, are creating systems to accommodate returns while maintaining physical distancing and other requirements to ensure the safety of customers and store personnel.
BottleDrop redemption centers, operated by the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC), will remain open. OBRC will also continue to operate BottleDrop Express drop sites and dealer redemption centers.
TriMet News:
Temporary shuttle bus connects to emergency bottle return in NW Portland
TriMet is adding a temporary, free shuttle bus to help those already struggling financially, even before the COVID-19
pandemic. The new shuttle is Line 297-NW Yeon/OBRC. It will connect to a vital
public service for those who make money for basic needs one bottle or can at a
time – an emergency bottle return location in Northwest Portland. Service will
start Wednesday, April 29. TriMet is proud to fulfill this request by Oregon
Gov. Kate Brown to help fill a void due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Get
the details here.
Annual Beverage Container Reporting
All businesses that distributed redeemable beverages to dealers in calendar year 2019 must submit an annual report to the OLCC with their sales and return data. The letter and report form explain what beverage containers must be reported. Redeemable beverages that are sold out of a tap room, tasting room, etc. and on line without going through a distributor are included in the containers that must be reported.
Businesses that distributed redeemable beverages in 2019 should email their report to OLCC.BottleBill@oregon.gov by May 15, 2020. More time may be allowed, but by law the reports must be submitted no later than July 1, 2020. Businesses that did not distribute redeemable beverages in 2019 do not need to submit the report.
Other Bottle Bill Updates
Hard Seltzers and Kombuchas
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.
Mandatory Reporting Requirements
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.
Milk
At a special meeting in January 2020, the OLCC initiated
rulemaking to rescind rules adopted at their December 2019 meeting that
narrowed the definitions of “milk” and “plant-based milk” to give the industry
time to come up with a workable solution for accepting these empty
containers. Until the new rulemaking is complete, manufacturers,
retailers, and redemption centers may continue to apply the prior (pre-December
2019) definition of milk to beverage containers, which includes cultured milk
such as kefir and buttermilk.
Dealer Redemption Centers
The 2019 Oregon Legislature established dealer redemption centers (DRCs) and set out their requirements in ORS 459A.741. DRCs, or partner retailers, are stores that have partnered with BottleDrop and provide a drop off location for BottleDrop bags. Not every bag drop-off location is a DRC. A DRC will have a sign posted near the drop door that will identify it as a dealer redemption center. The store will also have an OLCC notice posted in its container return area (which is not necessarily near the drop door) identifying it as a DRC and indicating that the store may limit returns to 24 containers per person per day.
DRCs must have their drop doors available for the return of green and blue bags from 8 AM to 8 PM if the stores are open during those hours. BottleDrop account holders will not be charged a processing fee for bags deposited at a DRC, and those bags will not count toward the 15 bag per quarter limit for green bags. All other BottleDrop terms and conditions apply.
Stores with a DRC must continue to accept container returns outside BottleDrop’s green and blue bag account programs at all hours the stores are open, but may limit these returns to 24 containers per person per day. These returns would be by hand count or through a self-service machine.
DRCs can be in a city of any size. In most cases, the establishment of a DRC does not affect the number of containers that stores in their proximity must accept. However, if a DRC is established in a town with a population of less than 10,000, stores within a one-mile radius of the DRC can also limit returns to 24 containers per person per day if they meet certain requirements.
Sign Up for Email Alerts
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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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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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
Bottle Bill Checklist for License Applicants and Licensees
Back to TopBottle 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
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.
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Subscribe to OLCC's email alerts to receive updates on Oregon's Bottle Bill. Click the envelope below to subscribe!
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