Oregon Bottle Deposit System Hits 90 Percent Redemption Rate

[mahatmakanejeeves]

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Oregon Bottle Deposit System Hits 90 Percent Redemption Rate

February 4, 20197:01 AM ET
CASSANDRA PROFITA

Oregon's bottle deposit system is recycling more containers than ever before despite major disruptions in global recycling markets. ... Last year, Oregon recycled 90 percent of the beverage containers covered by its bottle deposit system. The rate has jumped from 64 percent just two years ago, and the total number of bottles recycled reached an all-time high of 2 billion in 2018.

"That's a really interesting thing given how much change is happening in recycling markets right now," said Joel Schoening with the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative, which runs the state's bottle deposit system.
....

The new numbers reflect the recent expansion of the program to include more types of beverage containers, including energy and sports drinks, tea, coffee and kombucha, as well as an increase in the deposit value from 5 cents to 10 cents.

In 2018, the program also saw a 50 percent increase in sign-ups for the BottleDrop service that allows consumers to drop off their bottles to be counted and credited to their accounts. According to OBRC, more than 300,000 Oregonians now have BottleDrop accounts.
....

[MontanaMama]

1. Wow!

Way to go Oregon!! If you make it easy and attractive to recycle, more folks would do it. It’s not enough that it is just the right thing to do for a lot of people.

[mrs_p]

2. In PDX there were groups

Of people who would go through my recycling every week.

[MontanaMama]

3. What were they looking for?

Recyclables to trade for cash? I'm curious.

[mrs_p]

5. Any bottled that could be

Turned in for money.

[customerserviceguy]

4. One thing I find odd

about the whole bottle-deposit thing.

It seems to be absolutely frozen in 1972. After no-return bottles became a thing during the mid-1960's, a number of states got on board with laws requiring a deposit to combat the beverage container litter problem, but then, it all stopped. I use 1972 as a point in the halt of the movement, because I think that was the year that Washington State voters turned down a ballot initiative to require a deposit on bottles.

Also, while a nickel a bottle was a significant part of the purchase price of a six-pack of especially a non-alcoholic beverage in 1972, now, it's just a minor nuisance. It would seem to me that the states who still value the idea of having container deposits would move to adjust that amount upwards to reflect over four decades of inflation.

When I buy a six-pack of high quality craft beer while visiting NY, the thirty cents is nearly meaningless when compared to the $11.99 price of the beverage. And since the recycling machines just outside the store are not not programmed for anything besides mainstream trash beer, I have to go through the hassle of going to the customer service counter to get my deposit back, and have them run a check (sometimes manually) on whether or not they sell that beer. I may as well just put the cans in the recycle bin to avoid wasting my time for thirty cents.