Fred Meyer Bottle Return: Hours, Locations, Bottles Accepted, & More

Here’s the Fred Meyer bottle return policy in plain language. At Fred Meyer and other Oregon grocery stores, you can return your used bottles for cash. Oregon is one of a handful of states that has implemented a bottle bill — a surcharge added to specific types of containers. This bottle bill also allows you to return empty bottles and receive a refund for the surcharge. Below we’ll outline what you need to know about returning beverage bottles to Fred Meyer stores in Oregon — including hours, accepted bottle types, quantity limits, and more. Don’t have a Fred Meyer near you? Not to worry! We’ve also covered the bottle return basics for other Oregon grocery stores.

Fred Meyer Bottle Return Policy (Oregon Only)

Fred Meyer is a grocery store chain based out of Oregon. Oregon, like several other states, has a Bottle Bill in place. In Oregon, it is called the Beverage Container Act, which tacks on an additional charge of 10 cents to certain bottled beverages at the time of purchase. (Note: Fred Meyer also has locations in Washington State and Alaska; however, these states do not have bottle bills and therefore do not offer bottle return services.)

But you have the opportunity to get that extra charge back as a refund when you return the empty containers to a participating retailer, like Fred Meyer. Once your containers have been returned to the store, they are recycled. When you return your empty containers, you not only help the environment by participating in Oregon’s recycling efforts, but you also get $0.10 for every bottle you bring in.

The following are key points to remember about the container return policy in Oregon.

Container Requirements

• Material: Glass, metal, or plastic
• Type: Bottles, cans, or jars
• Size: Must be less than 3 fluid liters
• Packaging: Must be an individual, separate, sealed container

Beverage Containers You Can Return

• Beer, bottled water, carbonated soft drinks, malt beverages (flavored alcoholic beverages like hard lemonade and wine coolers)
• Additional beverages covered as of January 1, 2018: coffee, coconut water, fruit juice, hard cider, kombucha, and tea

Beverage Containers You Can’t Return

• Liquor, milk, milk substitutes (like formula), wine

How the Return Process Works

Some Fred Meyer store locations have machines that will count your empty bottles for you. Other locations accept returns by hand count only. Both services are only available during regular store hours, which are usually 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. Contact your local Fred Meyer to learn more about their specific bottle return policies. Yes, the Fred Meyer bottle return hours are the same as the store hours.

Note that there is a limit of 144 containers ($14.40) returned per customer, per day. So, if you have more than 144 containers to return, you should plan to spread your return out over multiple days.

Returns to Locations That Hand-Count Only

If your local Fred Meyer accepts returns as hand-count only, then you’ll need to visit the redemption center and wait while a Fred Meyer employee counts the number of returns you have. Please note that the containers must be fully emptied and clean before you return them. Once the employee has calculated the amount of your refund, they will pay it out to you in cash.

Returns to Locations with Machines

If your local Fred Meyer has a redemption center with machines, simply insert your clean, empty bottles into the machine, one at a time. The machine will track the number of items and the amount of your refund. When you’ve inserted all your empty bottles, the machine will print out a ticket for your refund amount. Take the ticket into the store and cash it at the customer service department or at one of the registers. If you need to make a purchase, you may also use the ticket as a credit toward your purchase.

Bottle Return Policies at Other Oregon Grocery Stores

Don’t often find yourself at a Fred Meyer store? Not to worry! Below, we’ve outlined bottle return policies for several other grocery stores.

As bottle return policies differ by state, it is important to note that some of the policies below may change, depending on location. These policies are for stores located in Oregon. If you live in a different state, you can look up your state’s bottle return policy on the Bottle Bill website.

1. Albertsons

• How returns are counted: Machines
• Hours returns are accepted: During regular store hours
• Limit: 144 containers ($14.40) per customer per day
• Payment: Ticket that may be redeemed in store for cash or goods
• Source: Customer service representative
• Find your nearest Albertsons

2. Ray’s Food Place

• How returns are counted: Machines (usually located in the back of the store)
• Hours returns are accepted: During regular store hours
• Limit: There is no daily limit, but the machine will stop at $14.40 (144 containers) and print out a ticket for the refund amount. If you have additional containers to return, you may start again once the ticket is printed.
• Payment: Ticket that may be redeemed for cash or goods at any cashier in the store except for bakery/deli.
• Source: Customer service representative
• Find your nearest Ray’s Food Place

3. Roth’s Fresh Markets

• How returns are accepted: Machines
• Hours returns are accepted: During regular store hours
• Limit: The machines will automatically stop at 144 containers ($14.40) but once the ticket prints, you may start a new return.
• Payment: Ticket that may be redeemed for cash at a store cashier or customer service.
• Source: Customer service representative
• Find your nearest Roth’s Fresh Markets

4. Safeway

• How returns are counted: Machines
• Hours returns are accepted: During regular store hours
• Limit: 144 containers ($14.40) per customer per day
• Payment: Ticket that may be redeemed for cash or goods in the store
• Source: Customer service representative
• Find your nearest Safeway

5. Whole Foods

• How returns are counted: Varies by location; some are hand-counted and some are counted by machines
• Hours returns are accepted: During regular store hours
• Limit: Vary by store, ranging from 24 to 200 containers per customer per day.
• Payment: Cash or ticket that may be redeemed in store for cash or goods, depending on location.
• Source: Customer service representatives
• Find your nearest Whole Foods

In Summary

If you have empty bottles and cans lying around, you can set aside the accepted containers and take them to your local Fred Meyer store for a refund. You can return up to 144 containers per day. At $0.10 a container, that’s a total daily refund of up to $14.40. If you don’t live near a Fred Meyer store, there are several other popular grocery stores, like Albertsons, Safeway, and others, that also accept bottle returns.