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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Cheers and Jeers ... Stouts fire still growing, but in a good way ... Man suspected of sexually abusing child ... Our View: Cheers and Jeers ... Stouts fire still growing, but in a good way ... Man suspected of sexually abusing child ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Legislature behind bottle-redemption changes Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Mar. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Mar. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News A local supermarket removed all bottle return stations and said they are forced "by law" to only accept 24 bottles at a time. I walked in with 19 bottles the other day, and felt like a leprous oddball for daring to ask for a refund. What is the reason for this law? Who's behind it? Retailers? Bottle manufacturers? Some Scrooge who has a problem with people picking up other people's trash and turning in the deposit? — "Reluctant Customer," via email   Just once here at Since You Asked headquarters, we wish the answer to a question could be "some Scrooge." Unfortunately, we'll have to wait another day. To answer your query, we reached out to Cherilyn Bertges, public relations and outreach manager with the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative.  Its the organization that coordinates bottle refund collection in our fair state and runs the BottleDrop collection centers, including the one installed at 1179 Stowe Ave. in Medford at the end of 2014. If you're wondering who's behind the change, it's the Oregon Legislature. "They're the ones who passed the bill, just like the original bottle bill," Bertges said. One of those changes to the original Oregon Beverage Container act is that stores located from 2 to 3.5 miles from a BottleDrop redemption center must accept a minimum of 24 containers. "It's not that they can't accept more," Bertges said. "It's up to them if they want to pay for 26 or so." She said many store locations have adhered to the minimum requirements of the law as a store policy because the stores are paying into the program that moved recycling off-site. "The stores like participating in the BottleDrop because it handles sort of the messy business when they're trying to sell food," Bertges said. "Distributors and retailers come together to pay for the center, and we run them." The BottleDrop redemption center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, and Bertges said the center is better equipped and better prepared to assist with bottle returns than stores ever were. "We have more machines than any store ever had, so wait times are shorter," Bertges said. "It's so much easier, it's cleaner and we have really friendly staff on site to help." Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.  MailTribune.com Writer Posted Mar. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501