Oregon Enacts the First U.S. Bottle Bill

Article abstract: Determined to reduce public littering, the state of Oregon banned the use of nonrefillable beer and soft drink containers.

Summary of Event

On October 1, 1972, Oregon governor Tom McCall signed a new law, the first of its kind in the United States, banning the use of nonrefillable containers for packaging soft drinks and beer. Following the passage of this legislation, beer and soft drink producers in Oregon were able to use only refillable glass bottles to distribute their products. Throwaway cans and bottles were prohibited. The law...

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