SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Senate has voted to expand the bottle deposit system to cover containers holding energy drinks, tea and most other beverages.
The Senate voted 17-13 on Wednesday to approve the bill, which would make the deposit system apply to just about any glass, metal or plastic beverage container. It would also increase the current nickel deposit to a dime if redemption falls 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.
Critics were opposed to potentially raising the deposit.
