By Pat Case. Dec. 20, 2018. Salem Mayor Chuck Bennett recently kicked off the dedication of a new public sculpture called Good Cents, which commemorates Oregon’s landmark environmental legislation, commonly referred to as the Oregon Bottle Bill.
A passerby snaps a photo of Salem’s newest public art installation. Photo: Oregon Environmental Council.
The Bottle Bill, implemented in 1971, was the first of its kind in the nation. It was introduced in order to curtail the growing litter problem throughout the state, which included the tendency of otherwise responsible people to throw their used bottles onto state beaches, parks, roadways and other public places. The Bill, which incentivizes recycling by requiring a deposit on a range of bottles purchased, has undergone several significant changes over the course of its 48-year history. It remains, after all these years, an iconic example of Oregon’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
Lillian Pitt, pictured here in her studio.
The sculpture, commissioned by the Oregon Environmental Council, was created as a collaborative effort among three artist: acclaimed Native American artist Lillian Pitt, Mikkel Hilde, and Saralyn Hilde.
Pitt said she was honored to have been part of the team chosen for the job: “Most Native American people feel as if they’re stewards of the earth. I myself was taught about my ancestors and our commitment to the earth from the time that I was a small child.”
Pitt added that all of her art reflects what her ancestors had to say, and that doing this sculpture was like giving another voice to them.
“We hope that when people see the sculpture, they will think about the issues we face,” she said. “And we hope that people can develop a greater understanding between the need to protect our environment and survival.”
Good Cents, located in a park near the intersection of Church and Trade streets in downtown Salem, is the second of four public art installations in the Oregon Environmental Council’s “Art of Loving Oregon” series, which celebrates Oregon’s legacy of environmental protection.
Doris Penwell, a board member of the Oregon Environmental Council, noted in her remarks to those gathered that the Bottle Bill was one of the first accomplishments that the Council had been associated with. She said we were living in a “throw-away society” at the time, and that passing the Bill represented the first of many steps since taken in Oregon’s journey to sustainability. She thanked the City of Salem for partnering in the placement and dedication of the commemorative sculpture.
Joel Schoening, spokesperson for the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative, added that before the implementation of the Bottle Bill, there were far fewer bottles in circulation. Companies weren’t selling bottled water, he noted, and there were far fewer brands of beers and other beverages on the shelves.
Imagine what our problem would be like today if the visionaries back in the late 1960s and early ’70s did not have the firm resolve to get the Bill passed.
Learn More
Learn more about Lillian Pitt and her art by visiting her website.
Visit the Oregon Environmental Council blog site to see photos of the commemorative event and a video essay featuring artists Lillian Pitt and Saralyn and Mikkel Hilde.
Learn more about the landmark environmental bills that the Oregon Environmental Council helped to bring about by visiting the Oregon Environmental Council’s Art of Loving Oregon website.
This is truly wonderful! I love this piece of art, the artist, and the recognition given both by OEC.
Make that Columbia Insight!
Make that Columbia Insight.
It’s wonderful to see this acknowledgement of the importance of conserving and reusing resources and of Lillian Pitt’s artwork. Thanks, Pat Case, for this article.
Oh yes, I remember when the Bottle Bill became law in 1971. I like to think I influenced the legislators into passing that bill!
After a car-trip to Bend in early 1971, I wrote a letter to the editor of the Oregonian (which was published) with an estimate of the number of bottles and cans littered alongside U.S Highway 26. The number was based on a rough count I made returning from a cross-country ski trip into the Three Sisters Wilderness. I can’t remember the number, but it was in the many hundreds per mile!
My letter to the Editor prompted a bunch of responses. Next time I drive that highway, I must reassess the litter situation. I have a hunch that it’s worse than it was 47 years ago….
Great article, Pat Case. Remembering the landmark legislation and the progressive leadership behind it. Oregon has always been a leader.
Pat Case Terrific article You are my HERO
Inspiring and educational article Pat Case! Thank-you for enlightening me about Oregon’s environmental leadership and Lillian Pitt’s creative contributions as a visual reminder for all.
There is a very serious error in this article by the author. This sculpture was not done by Lillian Pitt with the help of Mikkel and Saralyn Hilde. The sculpture was created by Lillian Pitt, Mikkel Hilde and Saralyn Hilde, working in collaboration as equal artists. Equal credit should be given where equal credit is due. The author was aware of this and failed to acknowledge appropriately.
Mikkel, thank you for writing. We appologize and we revised the article to reflect your concern.