The Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC) is partnering with Double Mountain Brewery & Tap Room on the pilot phase of a new refillable beer bottle program.

The pilot combines the refillable operations at Double Mountain and the collection capabilities of BottleDrop Redemption Centers. The new pilot program launched on March 23, 2017 at Milwaukie BottleDrop, in Milwaukie, Ore.

Double Mountain beer bottles will be accepted at any BottleDrop Redemption Center in the Portland metropolitan area and returned to the brewery.

“A refillable bottle program is a progressive step in responsible materials management for Oregon’s craft brew industry,” OBRC President John Andersen said in a statement. “The beverage industry is committed to not only upholding the legacy of the Oregon Bottle Bill, but expanding stewardship efforts through new and innovative programs like this one.

Refillable beer bottle programs, if developed properly, can be more cost effective and a better use of resources than traditional glass recycling, according to OBRC. The lack of partner networks and necessary infrastructure have been common road blocks to creating refillable systems beyond a single brewery.

“I'm excited to partner with OBRC on a larger refillable beer bottle initiative,” Matt Swihart, Founder and Brewmaster of Double Mountain Brewery, said in a statement. “Customers of our current system love the softer environmental footprint and know they are part of a solution to sustainability.”

OBRC is a member-owned, cooperative 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, and operates BottleDrop Redemption Centers across the state.