US EditionOregon Loves Its Bottle Bill, but Is It Dragging Down Portland?
- Oregon's first-in-the-nation bottle bill, passed in 1971 and aimed at reducing litter, now faces potential overhaul in 2025 with new legislation under review.
- The bill's revision comes after decades of expansion in container types and deposit increases, amid rising concerns about safety and drug-related issues near redemption sites.
- The proposal would limit container returns after 8 p.m. Statewide and introduce nonprofit-run alternative redemption sites in Portland to ease retailer burdens and address community tensions.
- The program achieved an 87% container return rate in 2023; however, critics highlight that accepting returns late at night may jeopardize employee safety and contribute to drug abuse, with Plaid Pantry's CEO noting that redeeming just a few cans can generate enough money to purchase fentanyl.
- With the bill approved by the Senate and awaiting House confirmation by late June 2025, legislators seek to update the container return system in a way that addresses both ecological priorities and community safety concerns, potentially setting a precedent for similar initiatives across the country.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Amid Encampment Sweeps, Oregon City May Ban Public Syringe Exchange
The Roseburg, Oregon, City Council is weighing an ordinance that would prohibit harm reduction programs from distributing syringes in public spaces, namely parks. Support for the ordinance is driven in large part by claims of needlestick injuries during encampment sweeps. Roseburg is the county seat and most populous city of Douglas County in southern Oregon, about 70 miles from Eugene. In a council hearing on May 12, the police chief claimed th…
Oregon's 'bottle deposit bill' was the first, but now it may be getting an overhaul
Oregon lawmakers are considering changes to the state’s landmark bottle deposit law, including curfews for redemption sites and new mobile return options to address rising concerns over safety and homelessness.
Corvallis Gazette Times
Albany Democrat HeraldBottle redemption law may change
PORTLAND — Monica Truax has lived in her Portland home since 1992, on a cul-de-sac she described as a close-knit community. But since a bottle redemption center opened next door several years ago, her block has struggled with drug dealing,…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 79% of the sources are Center
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
Ownership
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage
