Oregon Public Broadcasting

Two lawmakers in Salem say Oregon should stake a claim on millions of dollars worth of unredeemed bottle deposits.  The bill gets its first hearing Monday.  Salem correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

Representative Michael Dembrow and Senator Jackie Dingfelder say that every time someone fails to return an empty soda can or beer bottle, that nickel ends up in the pocket of beverage distributors.

The two Democrats have introduced a bill that would divert that cash into state coffers.  

Distributors say they use the money to run the bottle recycling program, but Dembrow doesn’t buy that.

Michael Dembrow:  “The program was designed to be supported by their ability to sell recycled plastic, glass, and especially aluminum.  The system was never designed to be supported by the unredeemed deposits.”

Distributors aren’t required to disclose how much money they keep in unredeemed bottle deposits, but the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality estimates it could be as much as $30 million a year.

 The bill faces an uphill battle.  So does a separate measure to expand the bottle bill to juice, sports drinks and iced tea.

Online:

Oregon House Bill 3465 , which diverts unclaimed nickels into the state’s general fund

Oregon House Bill 2184 , which expands the scope of the current bottle bill