Dive Brief:
- The deposit amount for bottles in Oregon could double in 2017 if the state does not reach a 80% redemption rate for two consecutive years, according to Resource Recycling.
- The state’s current rate hovers around 71%, which fails to meet legislative expectations- set at 80%.
- If the deposit rate is increased, it will go into effect in January 2017.
Dive Insight:
Oregon’s deposit program is the longest running bottle redemption program in the country. A host of challenges are working against a higher rate: residents find it easier to toss recyclables into the curbside collection bin, feeling that the small change just isn’t worth the added effort of heading over to the redemption center for disposal; the number of water consumed away from home is substantial, promoting people to toss the bottle wherever it is convenient; a poor customer experience when visiting a redemption center adds to the reluctance to collect the deposits.
One bright spot is a collection center started by OBRC. The group formed a co-op of local distributors and bottlers, partnered together, and launched “BottleDrop” redemption centers. Consumers have shown interest, and the ten sites account for 30% of the state’s redemptions.