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Redemption Deserts · Oregon

Oregon redemption deserts and unclaimed deposits

Can people in Oregon get their deposit back? It depends on where they live. Here is how far people live from a place to return bottles and cans.

141,772people live in a redemption desert
3.3%of people in Oregon (rank 5 of 10)
$21.8 millionunclaimed deposits (2023)
90.4%redemption rate (2024)

How sure are we? Medium. We list BottleDrop centers and the stores and drop sites BottleDrop lists. Some other stores may also take returns, so real access may be better than shown.

Key findings for Oregon

  • About 141,772 of 4,237,256 people live in a redemption desert.
  • 118,451 people live more than 10 miles from the closest return spot.
  • 23,321 people live in crowded areas more than 3 miles from a return spot.
  • The typical trip is 1.2 miles in a straight line. 42.8% of people live within 1 mile.
  • Gilliam County is hardest hit. 100% of people there live in a desert.
  • $21.8 million in deposits went unclaimed in 2023.

Unclaimed money and return rate

Map of Oregon counties

Map loads as you scroll…

Worst counties

Oregon counties with the biggest share of people in a desert
CountyPeopleIn a desertShareTypical trip
Gilliam County1,9951,995100%32.1 mi
Sherman County1,8701,870100%23.4 mi
Wheeler County1,4511,451100%49 mi
Grant County7,2332,84439.3%2.1 mi
Lake County8,1602,76133.8%5.8 mi
Harney County7,4952,16528.9%0.9 mi
Klamath County69,41315,81722.8%2.7 mi
Union County26,1964,98619%1.1 mi
Baker County16,6683,17119%1.7 mi
Jefferson County24,5023,18613%4.5 mi
Oregon towns and places where most people live in a desert
Town or placePeopleIn a desertShareTypical trip
Sheridan city7,0617,061100%12.4 mi
Warm Springs CDP2,6222,622100%10.1 mi
Union city2,3192,319100%12.1 mi
Mill City city1,8361,836100%15.7 mi
Rainier city1,8291,829100%12.4 mi
Cove city1,6191,619100%12.3 mi
Willamina city1,4111,411100%13.5 mi
Glide CDP1,3761,376100%13.2 mi
Grand Ronde CDP1,3261,326100%17.7 mi
Lowell city1,2351,235100%12.6 mi

Best-served places

Oregon counties with the shortest typical trip
CountyPeopleIn a desertShareTypical trip
Multnomah County815,4288170.1%0.7 mi
Hood River County23,97700%0.9 mi
Malheur County31,5717872.5%0.9 mi
Curry County23,44600%1 mi
Washington County600,37200%1 mi
Union County26,1964,98619%1.1 mi
Clackamas County421,401820%1.1 mi
Lane County382,97110,7542.8%1.3 mi
Oregon towns (20,000 people or more) with the shortest typical trip
Town or placePeopleIn a desertShareTypical trip
Oak Grove CDP21,49400%0.4 mi
Ashland city20,75800%0.6 mi
Portland city654,68800%0.6 mi
Hillsboro city103,87100%0.7 mi
Newberg city26,37900%0.7 mi
Woodburn city24,95100%0.8 mi
Forest Grove city25,98900%0.8 mi
Wilsonville city24,49300%0.8 mi

Where to return bottles in rural Oregon counties

These are the most rural counties. We list the closest return spots to where most people live. Distances are straight-line. Call ahead.

Closest return spots for rural Oregon counties
CountyTypical tripClosest return spots
Wheeler County49 miHeppner Market Fresh (Heppner, 44.3 mi) · Ray's #60 (Prineville, 51.9 mi) · Ericksons Thriftway Prineville (Prineville, 51.9 mi)
Gilliam County32.1 miHeppner Market Fresh (Heppner, 31.9 mi) · Dollar General Boardman (Boardman, 36.1 mi) · Irrigon Shell (Irrigon, 45.6 mi)
Sherman County23.4 miSafeway #1489 (The Dalles, 23.7 mi) · Fred Meyer The Dalles (The Dalles, 23.9 mi) · Bi-Mart The Dalles (The Dalles, 24.8 mi)
Lake County5.8 miSafeway #4316 (Lakeview, 20.9 mi) · Klamath Falls BottleDrop Redemption Center (Klamath Falls, 67.8 mi) · Ray's #54 (Lapine, 97.2 mi)
Jefferson County4.5 miSafeway #1960 (Madras, 4.8 mi) · Oliver Lemon's (Terrebonne, 16.5 mi) · Redmond BottleDrop Redemption Center (Redmond, 22.5 mi)
Tillamook County3.9 miFred Meyer Tillamook (Tillamook, 0.7 mi) · Safeway #2723 (Tillamook, 1.1 mi) · Manzanita Fresh Foods (Manzanita, 17.6 mi)
Klamath County2.7 miKlamath Falls BottleDrop Redemption Center (Klamath Falls, 5 mi) · Albertsons Ashland - 573 (Ashland, 48.8 mi) · Shop'n Kart Ashland (Ashland, 48.9 mi)
Lincoln County2.3 miNewport BottleDrop Redemption Center (Newport, 5.9 mi) · Jc Market Toledo (Toledo, 6.8 mi) · Chester's Hometown Mkt Depoe Bay (Depoe Bay, 9.6 mi)

See all 268 Oregon return spots · Download county data (CSV)

How we did this

We used 2020 Census data on where people live. We found the closest return spot on our Oregon list in a straight line. A desert is more than 10 miles away, or more than 3 miles in a crowded area. Read the full method.

Our Oregon list: Source: BottleDrop / Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative location finder (bottledrop.com), retrieved 2026-10-13; full-service centers checked against the OLCC Redemption Center Locations list (September 2026). Law: ORS 459A.700 to 459A.744; OAR chapter 845, division 20.

Oregon redemption deserts FAQ

How much Oregon bottle deposit money goes unclaimed?

$21.8 million in 2023. Source: NWRA Bottle Bill Escheats Summary Report (Dec 2025), Table 1. Not an official state figure. In Oregon, distributors keep unclaimed deposits to run the system.

What is the Oregon bottle return rate?

90.4% in 2024. This is the redemption rate (preliminary). Source: Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative, 2024 Annual Report.

How many people in Oregon live in a redemption desert?

About 141,772 people. That is 3.3% of people in Oregon. A desert means the closest return spot is more than 10 miles away, or more than 3 miles in a crowded area.

Where are the redemption centers near me in Oregon?

Our Oregon map has 268 return spots. Search by city or ZIP on the Oregon page.

Where can I return bottles in a rural Oregon county?

The table on this page lists the closest return spots for the most rural counties. Call ahead before you drive.

How sure are these results?

We rate Oregon as medium. We list BottleDrop centers and the stores and drop sites BottleDrop lists. Some other stores may also take returns, so real access may be better than shown.