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Corvallis Gazette-Times - 2007-05-25

House backs bottle bill expansion (new window)

SALEM (AP) - A measure to add plastic bottles of water and flavored water to Oregon’s landmark bottle deposit law won approval Thursday in the Oregon House, bringing it a step closer to being signed into law by the governor.

In 1971, Oregon blazed an environmental trail by becoming the first state to place a nickel deposit on beer and soda pop bottles and cans in a bid to reduce roadside litter.

But over the years Oregon’s law has been overshadowed by other states with broader deposit laws covering more containers.

Backers of the bill passed Thursday said it will be a major expansion of the law by covering the more than 128 million recyclable water bottles that are thrown away by Oregonians each year.

Approved on a 42-16 vote, the measure now returns to the Senate for action on amendments.

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