SALEM - Starting April 1, you can disregard the label on any soda cans, water bottles and beer bottles that say "OR 5-cent refund." All cans and bottles, regardless of how labeled, will be worth a dime when returned to a redemption center in Oregon.

The doubling of Oregon's bottle deposit was decided by the Oregon Legislature nearly five years ago. The fact that it will take effect this April was decided last summer, when the state hit the trigger of having less than 80 percent of cans and bottles returned for two consecutive years.

To make it abundantly clear that the 2011 law requiring 10-cent deposits and refunds overrules the label on any can or bottle that lists the old 5-cent rate, the 2017 Oregon Legislature agreed to pass a law spelling that out in black and white. On Monday, the Oregon Legislature overwhelmingly approved that measure, sending it to Gov. Kate Brown for her signature.

People who buy cans and bottles now are welcome to save them until April to score a dime's refund on every container for which they pay a nickel deposit.

Oregon was the first state to adopt a bottle refund bill back in 1971 as a way to encourage recycling. Ten other states have similar laws, but only Michigan currently offers a 10-cent refund.

--The Associated Press