[Comm-Council] FW: NEWS RELEASE: Governor Signs Bottle Bill Expansion and Electronic Recycling Bill into Law

[HOKLIN Lonn * DAS DO]

Lonn Hoklin

Public Affairs Manager

Oregon Department of Administrative Services

503.378.2627

503.428.2169 (cell)

________________________________

From: SHERWOOD Jodi L * Governor's Office 
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 11:47 AM
To: EXEC Net List
Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Governor Signs Bottle Bill Expansion and
Electronic Recycling Bill into Law

 

 

 

 

Theodore R. Kulongoski

          Governor

           

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    

June 7, 2007

 

Contact: 
Anna Richter Taylor: 503.378.6169

Jake Weigler: 503.378.6496

Kristina Edmunson: 503.378.5040

 

Governor Signs Bottle Bill Expansion and Electronic Recycling Bill into
Law

SB 707 expands the bottle bill to include water bottles and HB 2626
creates an electronic recycling program

 

Salem - Governor Ted Kulongoski today signed into law Senate Bill 707
and House Bill 2626, expanding Oregon's bottle bill to include plastic
water bottles and creating a statewide program for recycling used
personal computers, televisions, laptops and monitors.

 

"Oregon has always been a leader on sustainability. Over thirty years
ago, we were the first in the nation to pass the bottle bill," said
Governor Kulongoski. "Today we build on that legacy, providing new
opportunities for Oregonians to recycle - preserving our natural
resources and improving our quality of life." 

 

Senate Bill 707 will expand Oregon's landmark 1972 bottle bill for the
first time since its inception to include a refundable deposit for all
plastic water bottles under three liters-including flavored water. The
expansion will go into effect January 1, 2009.

 

The legislation also creates a Bottle Bill Task Force, charged with
submitting a report to the Governor by November 1, 2008 on
recommendations on how to further expand or modify the bottle bill's
recycling system. The Governor will appoint the nine members of the Task
Force.

 

"Oregon has long been a national leader in recycling.  We already
recycle over 45 percent of our waste stream, helping us use our natural
resources efficiently and improve our quality of life," the Governor
said.  "This bill will allow us to significantly expand and exceed that
number." 

 

Each year, Oregonians buy nearly 200 million bottles of water, with an
estimated 125 million thrown in the trash. Adding plastic water bottles
to the refundable deposit program will encourage recycling, helping
conserve energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce solid
waste. 

 

Under House Bill 2626, manufacturers are required to provide free
collection sites for consumers to recycle all computers, laptops,
monitors and televisions with screens larger than four inches
diagonally. Manufacturers must register with the Department of
Environmental Quality to either establish a recycling program or
contract with one to ensure all Oregonians - individuals, small
businesses and non-profits - have access to free recycling programs. 

 

"We currently only recycle about 15 to 20 percent of our electronic
products. With this bill we can greatly improve that rate," the Governor
said.   "But perhaps more importantly, this is a consumer-oriented
package, making it as easy to recycle a computer or TV as it is to buy
one."

  

If not disposed of correctly, these electronic items can create damaging
environmental impacts and harm our natural resources and wildlife. 

 

"Both of these bills provide easy ways for all Oregonians to recycle and
use our natural resources more efficiently and improve our quality of
life," said Governor Kulongoski. "We are not only creating a legacy for
future generations, but we are leading the way for other states to
follow." 

 

-30-

 

 

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