Oregon was the first state to require that carbonated beverages include a deposit and refund.Now many years later it is common place in most states. But we are a sate that doesn't like to sit still. We recycle just about everything and the powers that be have decided that our Bottle Bill needs improving.
According to an article by Aaron Clark, an AP writer, as reported at KGW.com, the bill before the House committee on Energy and the Environment would require beverage distributors to include a 5-cent premium on all "water and flavored water" containers.
Grocers are up in arms as they would also be required to store the new bottles even if they didn't sell the brand. Currently grocers are only asked to provide refunds if they sell the brand. Their concern is that they won't get reimbursed and that the empties will end up in the land fill anyway.
Environmentalists are concerned that the bill doesn't go far enough as the current refund of $.05 hasn't been changed since 1971 and is no longer much of a financial incentive.
It will be interesting to see where this goes and how long it takes other states to follow. In my travels I've been amazed at how dirty some states are and at the extent of bottles and cans along the highway. While this isn't a cure-all, it helps.
Larry Morris is a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist and Certified Mortgage Coach with Golf Savings Bank in Beaverton, Oregon. He specializes in USDA Guaranteed Rural Home Loans, FHA Purchase and Refinance, FHA 203k Rehab loans, FannieMae HomePath loans and conforming purchase and refinances in the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California.
He can be reached at 503-421-0096, or larry@PDX-Mortgage.com.
Larry~
I have a friend who lives in Oregon who prides himself on having no more than a tiny grocery bag of trash per MONTH! As you say, in Oregon..you recycle everything. What I want to know now is how do the REALTORS get recycled (I'm smiling)... and are REALTORS held in high esteem for their eco-savvy ways?...and what kind of cars do the REALTORS drive?
Gary - The current system is either large machines that read a bar code and they do in fact either accept or reject based on what they sell. The small stores do it by hand. The issue is that they are trying to make it easier to get more people to recycle. If you have to drive all over to get 5 weird beer bottles refunded you are more likely to just throw them away. If the stores have to pay a refund for a bottle they can't get refunded on without going through the same hassle they are more likely to just throw it away as well. They then get charged for having to provide a refund and their garbage bill goes up. The pundits say that they stores are raking in the dough due to a large amount of uncollected refunds.
janeAnne - Yes, we get recycled California Realtors here... just kidding. Our Realtors are some of the best in the nation. We have a strong and growing eco/green housing movement here in Oregon. Whether or not it is actually creating increased business is hard to say, as I'm not an eco expert.