SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon House has voted to expand the bottle deposit system to cover energy drinks, tea bottles and most other beverage containers.
Lawmakers voted 47-12 Wednesday to make the deposit system apply to just about any glass, metal or plastic beverage container, except for those that hold milk, wine or liquor. It would also increase the current nickel deposit to a dime if redemption rates fall below 80 percent.
The bill would expand a pilot project that experiments with redemption centers to collect empty bottles — a bid to take that responsibility away from retail stores and to simplify the process.
Supporters of the change say the bottle deposit system was one of the most effective recycling incentives ever created but it needs an update.
