Historic Vote to Update Bottle Bill Today

Senate Bill 707-B will be a special order of business when the House convenes Thursday.

Plastic water bottles will now be returnable in Oregon Photo courtesy: rit.edu

(SALEM, Ore.) - When the House convenes today it will vote on SB 707-B—an update to Oregon’s landmark Bottle Bill.

Senate Bill 707-B will expand Oregon’s Bottle Bill by adding bottled water to the list of covered containers. It also creates a nine member Bottle Bill Task Force to study possible changes to Oregon’s current collection and redemption system.

The Task Force will study a number of topics including the possibility of redemption centers, expanding the amount of beverages, and increasing the deposit.

The Task Force would report its findings and recommendations to the legislature on or before November 1st, 2008.

“I’m honored to carry this bill which updates Oregon legacy,” said Rep. Berger.

“It has been 36 years since there have been substantive changes to the Oregon Bottle Bill.”

Senate Bill 707-B will be a special order of business when the House convenes Thursday, May 24th at 10:00 AM.

While the bill doesn't cover all types of plastic bottles, it is certainly a step in the right direction to allow the return and recycle of plastic water bottles.