1. (1) To expand and enhance alternative redemption access opportunities for individuals who redeem empty beverage containers on a daily or near daily basis, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission may approve one or more alternative access redemption centers at which any person may return empty beverage containers and receive payment of the refund value. An alternative access redemption center approved under this section must be:

   1. (a) Established and operated by a nonprofit organization that has entered into an agreement with a distributor cooperative to be a sponsor of the alternative access redemption center; and
   2. (b) Located within a city having a population greater than 500,000.
2. (2) Application for approval of an alternative access redemption center shall be filed with the commission. The application shall state the name and address of the nonprofit organization responsible for the establishment and operation of the alternative access redemption center, the name and address of the sponsoring distributor cooperative, the kind of empty beverage containers that will be accepted at the alternative access redemption center, the names and addresses of the dealers to be served by the alternative access redemption center and a proposal for the convenience zone specified by the commission under ORS 459A.746. The application shall include such additional information as the commission may require.

3. (3) The commission shall approve an alternative access redemption center if it finds the redemption center will provide alternative redemption access opportunities for individuals who redeem empty beverage containers on a daily or near daily basis. The order of the commission approving an alternative access redemption center shall state:

   1. (a) The location of the convenience zone specified by the commission under ORS 459A.746;
   2. (b) The dealers within the convenience zone to be served by the alternative access redemption center;
   3. (c) The dealers within the convenience zone not to be served by or not participating in the alternative access redemption center;
   4. (d) The services to be provided by the alternative access redemption center and the equivalent services required to be provided under ORS 459A.746 by a dealer that does not participate in, and is not served by, the alternative access redemption center;
   5. (e) The kind of empty beverage containers that the alternative access redemption center must accept;
   6. (f) Whether the alternative access redemption center will be located in an area zoned for commercial or industrial use under state statute or local ordinance or will be located in an area that will provide more convenient service given the proximity of the location to the dealers within the convenience zones to be served by the redemption center; and
   7. (g) Such other provisions to ensure that the alternative access redemption center will provide alternative redemption access opportunities for individuals who redeem empty beverage containers on a daily or near daily basis.
4. (4) An alternative access redemption center approved by the commission under this section is not a recycling depot for purposes of ORS 90.318, 459A.007, 459A.010, 459A.050 or 459A.080.

5. (5)

   1. (a) No later than five days after approving an alternative access redemption center under subsection (3) of this section, the commission shall provide written notice to each dealer that is identified in the order approving the alternative access redemption center as a dealer within the convenience zone not to be served by or not participating in the alternative access redemption center.

   2. (b) The notice required under this subsection shall include:

      1. (A) All information required to be in the order approving the alternative access redemption center under subsection (3) of this section; and
      2. (B) Notice of the provisions of ORS 459A.746 that are applicable to the dealer receiving the notice.
6. (6) The commission may review at any time approval of an alternative access redemption center. After written notice to the persons responsible for the establishment and operation of the alternative access redemption center, and to the dealers served by the alternative access redemption center, the commission may, after hearing, withdraw approval of an alternative access redemption center if the commission finds there has not been compliance with its order approving the alternative access redemption center, or if the alternative access redemption center no longer provides alternative redemption access opportunities for individuals who redeem empty beverage containers on a daily or near daily basis.

7. (7) An alternative access redemption center:

   1. (a) May not refuse to accept and to pay the refund value of up to 350 individual empty beverage containers, as established by ORS 459A.705, returned by any one person during one day;
   2. (b) Must provide hand counting of up to 50 individual empty beverage containers returned by any one person during one day for the refund value established by ORS 459A.705;
   3. (c) May provide drop off service for at least 125 individual empty beverage containers returned by any one person during one day for the refund value established by ORS 459A.705, and may provide an accounting mechanism by which the person may redeem the refund value of the beverage containers at a later date; and
   4. (d) May provide other services as determined necessary by the person that operates the alternative access redemption center.

8. (8)

   1. (a) In addition to the alternative access redemption center approved by the commission under subsection (3) of this section, a person that operates an alternative access redemption center, with the support of the sponsoring distributor cooperative, may apply to the commission for approval of one or more mobile or satellite redemption sites. The commission may approve a mobile or satellite redemption site if the commission determines that the site will provide convenient alternative redemption access opportunities for individuals who redeem empty beverage containers on a daily or near daily basis. A mobile or satellite redemption site must:

      1. (A) Maintain consistent service hours and days at fixed points within the convenience zone specified for the mobile or satellite redemption site; and
      2. (B) Provide the refund value of beverage containers in cash at the time of redemption.
   2. (b) At the time of approving a mobile or satellite redemption site, the commission may specify a convenience zone in the area surrounding a mobile or satellite redemption site as provided in ORS 459A.746.
   3. (c) Nothing in this subsection prohibits the operator of an alternative access redemption center from offering additional redemption services outside of the area of an alternative access convenience zone or a mobile or satellite convenience zone.
   4. (d) The commission may establish by rule standards for the operation of mobile or satellite redemption sites and requirements for dealers located in a convenience zone applicable to a mobile or satellite redemption site.

[2025 c.266 §2]