2024 Hidden Bottle Hunt challenges park-lovers to find one of six collectibles

A statewide scavenger hunt returns next month, challenging Oregon residents to scour greenspaces in search of commemorative collectibles.

The 2024 Hidden Bottle Hunt, hosted by the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative and BottleDrop, will run Wednesday to Sunday, July 3-7. The summer event brings families and communities together in celebration of Oregon’s history of environmental stewardship while supporting local charities.

The scavenger hunt will have clues posted daily on BottleDrop’s website, BottleDrop.com/hunt, leading treasure hunters to the final hiding places.

“We hope all Oregonians will join us in this annual celebration and enjoy exploring Oregon’s natural beauty as they hunt for this year’s commemorative bottles,” said Devon Morales, vice president of external affairs for OBRC.

The 2024 Hidden Bottle Hunt will have six separate, simultaneous searches, geographically dispersed in parks and trails across Oregon — in the past the bottles have been hidden in different zones. One clue will be shared per bottle per day. The new design of the bottle is inspired by the sunsets seen off the Oregon Coast.

The winners will get to keep the bottle and select a nonprofit partner to receive a $1,000 donation through BottleDrop’s Containers for Change program.

Next month is the 53rd anniversary of the Oregon Bottle Bill, which Governor Tom McCall signed into law in 1971. It established the nation’s first beverage container redemption system, and has helped limit litter for more than five decades. In 2023 Oregonians returned more than 2 billion containers for Grade-A recycling.