True to its pioneering legacy, Oregon was the first state in the nation to require deposits on cans and bottles.  The Oregon Bottle Bill was characterized as and intended to be a litter control measure. It imposed a refundable deposit on all beer and carbonated soft drink containers – single serve containers that were often discarded as roadside litter. Before passage of the Bottle Bill, those containers made up as much as 40% of roadside litter. By 1979, that number had declined to 6%.

Although the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) was given certain administrative responsibilities and oversight for the Bottle Bill, daily administration was left to beverage distributors and grocery retailers. Because of this unique government and industry relationship, the Oregon Bottle Bill has come to be appreciated and admired nationwide for the ‘simple elegance’ of its design.

Beginning in 1987, beverage distributors began working together in a Cooperative form to better address the unique logistical, financial and environmental challenges facing them and grocery retailers with regard to their roles in the Bottle Bill. For over 20 years, two companies, Container Recovery (CRInc) and BROCO worked to provide Bottle Bill services to distributors and grocery retailers.

On January 1, 2009 CRinc and BROCO merged to form a new statewide industry cooperative called Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC). OBRC is now Oregon’s predominant administrator of the Bottle Bill covering nearly 100% of beverage containers and grocery retailers statewide.

Please explore our web site to learn more about the Bottle Bill and related legislation, or read more about OBRC's successful role in implementing the Bottle Bill.