845-020-0028 Alternative Access Redemption Centers (1) 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 Commissioners delegate to the Administrator the authority to grant or deny redemption center applications in accordance with this rule. (2) The Commission considers the following factors in determining whether or not an alternative access redemption center provides a convenient service to consumers for the return of empty beverage containers: (a) The location of the Alternative Access Redemption Center; (b) Dealers occupying 5,000 or more square feet within a redemption center zone that will be served by the redemption center and their distance from the redemption center; (c) Dealers occupying 5,000 or more square feet within a redemption center zone that will not be served by the redemption center and their distance from the redemption center. (d) The services to be provided by the alternative access redemption center and the equivalent services required to be provided by a dealer that does not participate in, and is not served by, the alternative access redemption center; (e) The kind of empty beverage containers that the alternative access redemption center must accept; (f) The cap, if any, on the number of beverage containers per person per day that the redemption center will accept; (g) Payment method(s) offered by the redemption center for redeemed beverage containers; (h) The projected volume of beverage container returns at the redemption center as compared to the actual returns at the dealers to be served by the redemption center; and (i) A description of how consumers will be notified of the redemption center’s location, services, and service hours. (j) 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; (k) Evidence that the applicant has notified the state Senator and state Representative in whose districts the alternative access redemption center will be located of the proposed alternative access redemption center and the applicant’s plan for community engagement; and (l) Such other considerations 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. (3) An Alternative Access Redemption Center: (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; (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; (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 (d) May provide other services as determined necessary by the nonprofit organization that operates the alternative access redemption center. (4) Alternative Access Redemption Center Convenience Zone must be the sector within a contiguous area of not more than three and one-half miles around the alternative access redemption center. (5) A mobile or satellite redemption site shall be located within an area that extends from the outer edge of the convenience zone specified for the alternative access redemption center with which the satellite or mobile redemption site is associated to a boundary that is no more than five miles from the alternative access redemption center at any point. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 459A & 471.030 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 459A.718, 459A.738 & 459A.741 History: OLCC 4-2025, adopt filed 11/20/2025, effective 12/02/2025 OLCC 2-2025, temporary adopt filed 06/05/2025, effective 06/05/2025 through 12/01/2025