Letters and comments for February 23, 2011

Can redemption centers be redeemed?

To the Editor:

On Dec. 27, 2008, The Observer had an article that was titled, “State retailers get ready for bottle bill change.” That bill, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2009, added deposits for water containers. It also created major changes for retailers regarding bottle returns, and consequently many major retail and grocery stores in Union County built bottle return centers, or redemption centers.

Have you had the frustrating task of trying to return bottles to machines or to the redemption centers? You often find the machines broken or full and the centers in a filthy, smelly, unsanitary condition.

How many times are you still being told by the retailer they will accept only the cans or bottles from beverages they sell, even though the bottle bill clearly states that if the store sells a beverage product they must redeem all types of bottles of the same beverage product?

The joke at one store is the bottle return machines are deliberately left not working. In plain sight is a bin for can donations for the local high school. Figure that one out!

I encourage everyone to read the Bottle Bill Resource Guide for Oregon (go to www.bottlebill.org and review ORS Chapter459A Beverage Containers/Bottle Bill). It clearly states the laws that govern these redemption centers.

I realize it takes extra time and employees for a retailer to maintain a redemption center. But if you have one of these centers, shouldn’t you be obligated to maintain it?

Obviously the old recycle centers, where you crushed cans and bottles and were paid so many cents per pound,

didn’t work. The impact on the environment from litter was deplorable. The new bottle bill has greatly reduced that litter.

Oregonians are required to pay a nickel for every beverage they purchase. Don’t they deserve to get their money back without a lot of hassle, especially since we are contributing to a better, greener society?

Diane Deal

Elgin

Renovate building

To the Editor:

What I read in your recent article in Business/Ag Life about the second option of tearing down the historic IOOF building at 1106 Adams distressed me. It wouldn’t hurt to have the historic society help renovate this impressive brick structure.

Nathan Forsythe

La Grande

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