Senate Passes Expanded Oregon Bottle Bill

Legislation will mean recycling of millions of plastic water bottles previously thrown away.

Photo: Tim King

(SALEM) - The Oregon Senate today passed Senate Bill 707, legislation that expands the type of containers that can be recycled under the Oregon Bottle Bill to include plastic water containers.

The expansion will mean recycling of millions of water bottles at the 5-cent deposit rate that previously would have been thrown away, resulting in a cleaner environment for Oregon.

“I am proud today to vote for legislation that is the essence of what it means to be an Oregonian,” said Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem/Gervais/Woodburn). “This legislation is a part of Oregon’s DNA, and although I am not a native Oregonian, at least I can say I voted for Oregon’s Bottle Bill.”

The first bottle bill, passed in Oregon in 1971, was groundbreaking legislation that made Oregon a leader in recycling and environmental stewardship.

Senate Bill 707 continues that tradition by ensuring the recycling of popular water bottles.

The bill also establishes a task force to examine the options for further expansion of containers that may be recycled and study the possibility of raising the deposit amount.

“The public is telling us that now is the time to re-visit Oregon’s bottle bill,” said Senator Joanne Verger (D-District 5). “This is sensible legislation that will better meet the recycling needs of today and, hopefully, years to come.”

“The addition of new containers represents another historic step in recognizing Oregon’s tradition as an environmental leader,” said Senator Brad Avakian (D-Portland/Beaverton), who chairs the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

Senate Bill 707 will now move to the House for consideration.

Reports From Iraq

Salem-News.com Top Stories
Medical Marijuana: What is the Dose?

---

Tensions Rise Between Police and Occupy Protesters

---

Petition: Fire Deputy Who Slugged a Mentally Disabled Woman!

---

Foreign National Injured at Weekly West Bank Demonstration

---

Bizarre, Unexplained Marine Colonel 'Suicides' What the Hell's Going on?

---

why are the retailers selling containers that cant be returned why does oregon allow it what obout the bottle bill

why are the retailers selling containers that cant be returned why does oregon allow it what obout the bottle bill

Name:

Enter the text from the image to confirm you are human.(Cookies are required)

HTML tags and certain characters are removed - (numbers, letters only or post may be cut short.) certain words are banned to stop spammers. All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.