Experienced And Knowledgeable With Both The Alcohol beverage Industry And The Law

Oregon Bottle Bill

by | Apr 4, 2017 | alcohol beverage law, Beer

On April 1, the new Oregon Bottle Bill went into effect. House Bill 2746 was signed by Governor Kate

Brown during the 2017 regular session of the Oregon State Legislature.

 

The bill increases bottle deposit refunds from 5 cents to 10 cents. In accordance with Oregon Law, the

Oregon Liquor Control Commission was required to evaluate state-wide redemption data for each of the

two previous calendar years to determine if the number of beverage containers returned for the refund

value was less than 80% of the total number of beverage containers that were sold in Oregon.  Because

the redemption rates for 2014 and 2015 were below 80%, ORS 459A.705 requires the refund value to

increase to 10 cents.

 

The change allows a grace period for containers labeled with OR 10¢ to be phased onto store shelves

through September 30, 2018.  The refund value will be 10¢ regardless of the amount shown on the

container.  Currently, beverages included are water, beer, and soft drinks. Only containers for these

beverages in sizes of three liters or less are included and have a refund value.

 

Hard cider, juice, tea, coffee, coconut water, non-alcoholic kombucha are not currently covered under

the Oregon Bottle Bill, but will be effective January 1, 2018 and will be limited to container sizes of 4

ounces to 1.5 liters. However, if a business charges the deposit on one of these items, that business

must redeem the container. Containers of alcoholic kombucha (0.5% or more alcohol by volume) are

included in Oregon’s Bottle Bill if the alcohol is derived from the fermentation of sugar or another

appropriate substitute for malt.

 

By: Oren Cytrynbaum

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The foregoing was prepared as general information. It is not meant to provide legal advice granting any specific matter and should not be acted upon without professional counsel. If you have questions or require additional information regarding these or other related matters, please contact Malkin Law, P.A. This material may be considered attorney advertising under certain rules of professional conduct.