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by Bruce Bartlett, CPO 1 Vice Chair
Starting with our famous “Bottle Bill” in 1971, Oregon was the first in the nation to create a system of waste management that allowed glass and aluminum containers to be recovered from the trash. A deposit is charged on applicable beverage containers that is redeemed when the container is returned. Initially intended to reduce litter, the results were dramatic and now between 80-90% of the containers subject to a deposit are redeemed. This has created a consistent stream of high-quality clean glass for reuse.
In the 1980s, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established solid waste disposal laws to prevent the human health dangers caused by garbage disposal. These rules direct each state to establish solid waste systems that prevent pollution at landfills, maximize use of recoverable materials and encourage resource conservation. In 1983, Oregon legislators established the Opportunity to Recycle Act (ORS 459A) which directs cities