This report outlines the economic, social and environmental impacts of a future EPR system compared to Washington's current recycling system. Prepared by Eunomia for the Northwest Product Stewardship Council, December 2021.
There are many ways to increase beverage container recycling. One way is to provide the public with an incentive to return their containers in the form of a deposit. With a cash value on each container, consumers have an incentive to return their containers for the redemption value regardless of where they are when they finish it. The ten states with container deposits are recycling more bottles and cans than the other 40 states combined and account for over 90% of the container recycling that occurs.
SB 1508, Relating to beverage containers; creating new provisions; amending ORS 459.992; and declaring an emergency, passed and was signed into law in April 2012. The bill made minor changes to the major adjustments that were made to the Bottle Bill in 2007 and 2011. In 2007, water bottles were added and larger stores, primarily grocers, were required to take back all covered containers, not just what they sold.
HB 3145 was signed into law by the Governor Kitzhaber on June 9, 2011. The bill expands the scope of containers to all beverages, including beer, soft drinks, water, juice and sports drinks and requires a nickel deposit per container. The expansion would go into effect in 2018 or when redemption centers collect 60 percent of currently-covered items, whichever occurs first.
