Plant Tour - Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative

Oregon's first-in-the-nation Bottle Bill established an industry-responsibility program to curb beverage container litter and improve recycling outcomes. Oregon's system has evolved over the past five decades but remains the most convenient system in the United States with the highest redemption rate in the nation. It's no accident that 9 of the 10 top recycling states have adopted deposit-return-systems for beverage containers. The Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC) serves as the industry steward operating Oregon's system, and their Clackamas processing plant is a "Willy Wonka" experience for recycling enthusiasts!

On this tour, you'll learn about the evolution of Oregon's Bottle Bill, some of OBRC's unique benefit programs that help to inspire the high level of participation from Oregonians, and you will get a behind the scenes look at some of the technological advancements that make Oregon's system so successful. Did you find the golden ticket?

Learning Objectives:

• After attending, you will be able to explain the circular path of a container deposit in Oregon.
• Upon completing the tour, you will be able to explain how a “green bag” is processed and paid to a consumer using AI based technology.
• You will see and learn about how the deposit you initiate on a container at a retailer, encourages and results in actual recycling on a large-scale.

Hors d' oeuvres will be provided.