Bottle Bill Modernization Moves Closer to Finish Line

House Bill 3145 passes Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources; headed to floor.

Courtesy: environmentteam.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - The effort to modernize Oregon’s Bottle Bill, HB 3145, moved closer to the finish line today as it passed out of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

This came on the heels of the Oregon House recently approving the bill by a strong bipartisan 47-12 margin.

“I’m pleased to see the Senate take such swift action to move the Bottle Bill update along,” said Jon Isaacs, Executive Director of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters.

“Oregon should lead the nation when it comes to pro-conservation policies. It’s time to move this piece of our treasured history into the 21st century by passing HB 3145 to update the landmark Bottle Bill.”

HB 3145 is a critical priority for Oregon’s environmental community because updating the Bottle Bill to add beverage containers like sports drinks and teas will reduce confusion among consumers and will increase recycling rates of containers that would otherwise end up in a landfill or as litter.

Bottle Bill modernization will also use an increased deposit from five to ten cents to encourage higher recycling rates, reducing waste and helping to meet or exceed recycling goals.

This increase would kick in if recycling rates drop below 80% for two consecutive calendar years. This would begin in 2017 for current Bottle Bill containers and 2021 newly-added containers.

"It's been 40 years since we passed the original Bottle Bill, and a lot has changed since then," said Senate Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland), Chair of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

"I'm pleased to join OLCV in supporting HB 3145, and I hope it will pass soon and become another part of Oregon's rich pro-conservation history."

HB 3145 now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.

Source: The Oregon League of Conservation Voters