Earth Day “Lunch & Learn” Commemoration: Oregon’s Bottle Bill Turns 50
In 1971, the Oregon State Legislature passed the Oregon Beverage Container Act, popularly referred to as the Bottle Bill, and Gov. Tom McCall signed it into law. The act created a redemption system for beverage containers that greatly reduced litter and established the state’s reputation for environmental leadership. The Bottle Bill has undergone changes and expansions in the past half century, but its initial purpose of encouraging environmental activism through returning glass, plastic, and aluminum bottles and cans for recycling remains part of Oregon’s ongoing sustainability legacy.
Join us on the 51st celebration of Earth Day — April 22 — for the release of a special panel discussion on the history and legacy of the Bottle Bill. OHS Executive Director Kerry Tymchuk will moderate the discussion, which will include:
Jules Bailey, Chief Stewardship Officer, Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative
Vickie Berger, former State Representative whose late father, Richard Chambers, is often recognized as the “true father” of the Bottle Bill
Becky Voelkel, Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) Bottle Bill Program Manager
Brent Walth, author of Tom McCall biography, Fire at Eden’s Gate
