Recycling Advocates E-Newsletter

February 2017 | www.recyclingadvocates.org | info@recyclingadvocates.org

Engaging people in creating a sustainable future through local efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Contents

BYOC Campaign Update
SB 199: "Extended Producer Responsibility for Household Hazardous Waste"
Bottle Deposit Increase: Response to Willamette Week Article
Fred Meyer Community Rewards Reminder
Do Just One Thing : Recycle Electronics at Free Geek

BYOC Campaign Update

Our volunteer gathering on January 26th was enormous fun and very productive. Discussion about the BYOC campaign was animated, sparking great ideas and enthusiasm. Attendees left with "Adopt-a-Shop" packets containing fliers, bookmarks, buttons and other materials to help spread the word.

Campaign Coordinator (and RA President) Brion Hurley has been following up with people who offered to help out, either surveying local coffee shops to see what they're currently doing to minimize coffee cup (and other) waste, or talking with managers and owners about joining the movement.

If you'd like to get involved with the campaign just email info@recyclingadvocate.org or leave us a message at 503-777-0909.

We look forward to featuring success stories in upcoming newsletters, on our website and on Facebook. Stay tuned!

SB 199: Extended Producer Responsibility for Household Hazardous Waste
By Betty Patton, RA Board Member

On Thursday February 16, 2017, the Oregon Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held an informational meeting on SB 199 followed by an initial hearing. This is the first step for this piece of legislation, and if passed, will implement an extended producer responsibility program for household hazardous waste products in the state. Recycling Advocates was represented on the task force that discussed and refined the program presented in this legislation, and testified at the Senate Committee.

SB 199 covers the proper handling and disposal of a variety of products: solvents and other flammable products, herbicides and pesticides from our home and garden, and oven cleaners and pool chemicals for example. Throughout Oregon, it has been the responsibility of local governments to manage the environmentally sound disposal of these products with rate payers picking up the financial burden. This legislation adds the manufacturers of these products into the list of responsible parties, putting the primary burden of funding and environmental management on their shoulders. The legislation defines the desired outcome and the manufacturers implement the process and cover the costs.

The structure created for this program is very similar to Oregon’s E-Cycles program, a tried and true framework for successful producer responsibility. RA’s Board of Directors encourages the passage of this bill. We urge you to contact your state Senator, particularly if they are members of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. They are:

Chair, Senator Michael Dembrow
Vice-Chair, Senator Alan Olsen
Member, Senator Herman Baertschiger Jr.
Member, Senator Floyd Prozanski
Member, Senator Arnie Roblan

If you are a constituent of one of these Senators, please let them know that when you contact them. And watch this space for updates as SB 199 works its way through the committee and beyond.

Fred Meyer Community Rewards
By Bonita Davis, Recycling Advocates member and volunteer

Perhaps you’ve noticed the Fred Meyer Community Rewards logo on the side bar of our website. It is worth checking out! Fred Meyer has a history of being generous to our Portland area community. This past year alone, over 2.6 million dollars was distributed to local non-profits. Even more impressive, Fred Meyer is engaging customers to decide how the money is distributed.

It is super simple to make Recycling Advocates a recipient of this community gift by simply linking your Rewards Card to Recycling Advocates, one of their designated, approved non-profits. Each time you scan your card at check out, a small contribution is credited to Recycling Advocates at no additional charge to you. The money has already been earmarked for community donation and Fred Meyer distributes this money to organizations quarterly.

If you do not have a Rewards Card, you can sign up for one at the Customer Service Desk of any Fred Meyer store. If you have a Rewards Card, simply log on to your account at www.FredMeyer.com, go to Community Rewards, and click on the prompt to link your account to a non-profit. Recycling Advocates (#90398) will pop up when you type the first few letters of our organization.

Bottle Deposit Increase: Response to Willamette Week Article

Recycling Advocates has always been a strong supporter of Oregon's bottle bill and we were advocates and campaigners for its expansion, so it's an issue we continue to monitor.

As you may know, bottle deposits increase from 5c to 10c on April 1st, and a number of additional beverage containers will be included in the program (hard cider, for example). No surprise, then, that local news outlets are weighing in on its merits. We appreciate their interest but encourage them to check facts before going to print.

The February 1st edition of Willamette Week carried an article that discussed the financial impact of the deposit increase, erroneously stating that unclaimed deposits result in $30 million additional profits for distributors (600 million bottles). Here's the response from our friends at OBRC, reprinted here with their permission.

OBRC Response to “Corporate Lobbyists Turned Oregon’s Iconic Bottle Bill Into a Sweet Payday For Their Clients”
By Cherilyn Bertges, OBRC Public Relations and Outreach Manager

Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC) would like to correct several assertions in Nigel Jaquiss’ recent article in the Willamette Week (“Corporate Lobbyists Turned Oregon’s Iconic Bottle Bill Into a Sweet Payday For Their Clients”). Since 2009, OBRC has helped make Oregon’s Bottle Bill a national model for a privately run, self-sustaining program that requires no taxpayer dollars. We strive to keep redemption rates high and unredeemed deposits help defray the cost of these efforts. OBRC’s annual budget is currently $34 million and increasing every year with the addition of new BottleDrop Redemption Centers.

Jaquiss writes that the unredeemed nickels currently held by distributors simply increase profits. This is factually inaccurate. Unredeemed deposits specifically offset the cost of picking up and processing returned containers, and are used to build BottleDrop Redemption Centers.

OBRC is committed to rapidly increasing the number of BottleDrop facilities, making it easier for all Oregonians to redeem containers. Our commitment to build 45 BottleDrop Redemption Centers statewide is still our central mission. When the OLCC approved these centers in 2013, OBRC’s goal was to open four BottleDrops per year. We have done that. Starting in 2017, we are working to increase that number to six per year. In addition, OBRC has debuted an innovative new program called “BottleDrop Express” to bring the green bag account program to rural areas where a full redemption center is not feasible, and also to urban areas where siting a redemption center is problematic. We believe every Oregonian should have convenient access to BottleDrop, and our over 122,000, and increasing daily, account holders show how successful we’ve already been.

We believe the increase to a 10-cent deposit is good for Oregon. A nickel simply is not worth what it once was. To keep the bottle bill meaningful and relevant, the deposit needs to go up. Puzzlingly, Jaquiss writes that it is “highly likely” the redemption rate will stay the same, yet cites no data for making this assumption. Oregon will be the first state to raise the deposit on all containers from 5 cents to 10 cents. Michigan, the only state with a universal 10 cent deposit, has a redemption rate of 94%. We don’t know what will happen after April 1st, but if Oregon achieves Michigan’s rate, unredeemed deposits will be a fraction of what they are today.

OBRC, in its stewardship role for the beverage industry, is continually looking for ways to reduce litter, increase redemption, and help the environment. OBRC has spent millions on free community and elementary school education programs, public awareness campaigns, and market research – all in an effort to encourage Oregonians to get their deposits back. OBRC has also recently announced an effort to create a statewide system of reusable beer bottles, in partnership with Oregon craft brewers. We are proud of our work, and we believe Oregonians value it.

We hope that future articles will examine and reflect all the facts about Oregon’s Bottle Bill.

A shortened version of this appeared in "Letters to the Editor" in last week's Willamette Week.

Do Just One Thing: Recycle Old Electronics at Free Geek
By Holly Hummel, Recycling Advocates Treasurer

Free Geek is a wonderful organization that recycles and repurposes your computers and other tech gear. Free Geek is located at 1731 SE 10^th Avenue, Portland. It is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10am-6pm.

As an authorized collector for the Oregon E-Cycles program, this organization accepts computers, laptops, monitors, televisions, printers, mice and keyboards for free and guarantees the environmentally sound recycling of each and all of these products.

Free Geek accepts nearly everything that plugs into a computer or uses electricity (including smart phones, tablets, e-readers, video game systems and most gadgets you can think of) whether or not it’s in working condition. Free Geek accepts your printers (including extra ink and toner), scanners, routers, UPS, digital cameras, PDAs and cell phones.

Free Geek has suggested monetary donation amounts for individual pieces of hardware. These funds support its volunteer programs, free classes for the community, and grants of equipment to non-profits, schools and community change organizations! As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, equipment and monetary donations to Free Geek are tax deductible.

When in doubt as to whether Free Geek will accept your item, please check out Free Geek’s website: http://www.freegeek.org/donate/what-we-take.

And for other items, as always when in doubt call Metro Recycling Hotline at 503-234-3000, or visit their website "Ask Metro".

Join Recycling Advocates

Become a member of Recycling Advocates and help us continue to spread the word about waste prevention.

Ways to Contribute:

By Mail: print and complete our Membership Form, mail it with your check to PO Box 6736, Portland, OR 97228-6736.
Visit our Website's Membership page
PayPal: use the button below to donate via PayPal using your credit card, bank account, or Paypal balance.

Membership Levels
Advocate $25 - Friend $50 - Supporter $100 - Sustainer $250
Gifts of any amount gratefully received.

Join at "Friend" level or above to be eligible to receive a Recycling Advocates/Rooster reusable coffee cup.

We thank you for your passion, support and commitment to protecting Oregon’s environment!

Other Ways to Support Recycling Advocates

We know that not everyone is in a position to support our work with a financial contribution. Here are some alternative ways to contribute that won't cost you a penny.

Fred Meyer Community Rewards: shop with your Fred Meyer Rewards Card, continue to earn your rewards points, fuel points and rebates, and Fred Meyer will donate to Recycling Advocates! Sign up here, and select Recycling Advocates, nonprofit number 90398.

Amazon Smile: Amazon donates .5% of the price of your eligible purchases to RA whenever you shop at smile.amazon.com. You'll see all your usual account settings and exactly the same products and pricing as at amazon.com. Learn more and sign up here.

GoodSearch & GoodShop: Support RA and save money at Goodsearch.com and Goodshop.com. Find store coupons, coupon codes, discounts, deals and promo codes. Join here and select Recycling Advocates.

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