Oregon considering fine for people in Washington trying to redeem bottles in Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon lawmakers are trying to deter people from Washington from recycling their bottles and cans in Oregon -- by imposing a hefty fine.
Senate Bill 522 is currently on Governor Kate Brown’s desk. It passed through the house and senate by big margins in April and May.
The bill would create a fine of up to $250 for people who try to return more than 50 containers that they know come from out of state. It would also be considered a Class D Violation. People from Washington will still be able to redeem bottles if they can demonstrate they purchased it from Oregon.
Since Oregon’s bottle deposit jumped to ten cents, the number of returns spiked. So did the number of people from Washington trying to return bottles in Oregon.
Joel Schoening, Community Relations Manager with the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC), says it has become a big problem because people in Washington don’t pay a deposit when buying beverages in recyclable containers.
“It's basically like theft,” he said. “Oregon's bottle bill works on the deposit system. if that deposit hasn't been paid, then it's like you haven't paid your garbage bill or your recycling bill for your curbside recycling.”
OBRC runs the Bottle Drop locations scattered around Oregon. Security guards outside check for people arriving from Washington by looking at license plates and photo ID.
In 2018, Schoening says the found 10,000 people from Washington showing up to Bottle Drop locations.
“Currently it's fraud, but that fraud is not specifically defined towards bottles. The new law will give us a narrower definition, a specific limit, so we'll be able to communicate that on both sides of the river,” said Schoening.
“If we're paying $2.50 for a case of pop and they're paying $2.3, it's a 20-cent difference there. We're getting on the short end,” said Cleveland Williams, an Oregonian who was recycling containers Monday.
Opponents of the bill say this hurts people who collect bottles as a source of income.
“I think you get a little carried away with a policy that's designed to punish people for trying to make a little money, recycle, and help the environment. It’s not necessary,” said Sean McNerny, another recycler who is from Oregon.
The Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association testified against the bill during a public hearing in May. They said it affects people in poverty and may deter recycling. They said some people don’t know the bottles they have come from out of state.
A former grocery store director from St. Helens testified before the House Committee on Energy and Environment in May saying he witnessed a dramatic increase in people coming from Washington with bottles.
“We are pro-recycling and we welcome people to return legitimate containers. We want to recycle those containers purchased in Oregon,” said Schoening. “It's difficult to put the burden of recycling Washington's containers on Oregon and that's sort of where we need to draw the line.”
