Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC), a cooperative of the beverage industry to run Oregon’s Bottle Bill, is entering a new partnership with SOLVE, an environmental nonprofit.
As stewards of the Bottle Bill, Oregon beverage distributors found a natural alliance with SOLVE to reduce litter and keep Oregon’s natural spaces clean. OBRC, which operates a recycling center in Hermiston, will sponsor a new staff position at SOLVE that will lead SOLVE’s Project Oregon program for a minimum of three years.
“The beverage industry is always looking for opportunities to keep their containers from contributing to litter in our beautiful state,” said OBRC President John Anderson. “Just like our iconic Oregon Bottle Bill, SOLVE has a legacy of working to keep litter off of Oregon’s beaches and roadways, making this partnership a perfect fit.”
Project Oregon provides assistance to individuals, community groups, students and teachers who wish to organize and engage volunteers in litter cleanup and Oregon landscape beautification efforts throughout the state. Assistance is offered through planning support, education and training, project materials and small grants.
“Gov. Tom McCall founded SOLVE in 1969 and was integral to the passage of the Oregon Bottle Bill in 1971, so it makes perfect sense for OBRC and SOLVE to build this strong partnership,” said Maureen Fisher, CEO of SOLVE. “OBRC’s support will help SOLVE expand our efforts of educating the community on the importance of litter reduction through recycling.”
OBRC is a member-owned, cooperative corporation that collects and processes nearly all containers sold and redeemed in Oregon. OBRC counts, sorts, crushes, bales and recycles 1.2 billion containers each year. The entire process is funded and managed by the beverage and grocery industries at no cost to taxpayers.
SOLVE is a statewide non-profit organization that brings Oregonians together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots group to a national model for volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains tens of thousands of volunteers across the state to maintain and restore the communities, neighborhoods and natural spaces throughout Oregon.
