We may soon have a national surcharge on drink containers. The idea is that this will encourage people to recycle drink bottles and cans. When the bottles and cans are brought to recycling centers, the money is returned.
Eleven states now have deposit programs that encourage consumers to return containers to claim the refund on the deposit. They are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon and Vermont. Most states impose a $0.05 deposit. The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act imposes an surcharge of $0.10 for containers of 24 ounces or more and $0.05 for containers under 24 ounces. Some states have deposits as high as $0.15 for some liquor bottles.
In states with such bills, recycling rates are substantially higher than in states without deposit laws. Because of this, no state drink container law has ever been repealed, says the Bottle Bill Resource Guide. In fact, it's likely that we'll soon have a national law imposing a surcharge on drink containers.
On November 15, Massachusetts Representative Edward Markey introduced the Bottle Recycling Climate Protection Act of 2007 into the U.S. House of Representatives. If the bill passes, it will mean a $0.05 deposit on every beverage container sold across the country. States with existing relevant legislation or with high recycling rates will be exempt from the national standard for 3 years, or as long as they maintain high recycling rates.
References:
Container Recycling Institute - eliminate all Beverage Container Waste by 2020!
Reverse Vending Machines
California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act
Bottle Bill Resource Guide
H.R. 4238: Bottle Recycling Climate Protection Act of 2007
Press release on National Bottle Bill - House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
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Comments: 18
Isn't such a law protecting the freedoms of victims of waste? How would you suggest to tackle this issue?
Recycling has picked up as the public has warmed to the issue and it has become more convient. Many people asked local governments to provide such services and most now do. That is the way this Country works. We should not tax people to make them behave a certain way. The people can make their own decisions.
The nickel deposit is a way for recycling to take hold in this country. Even with glass bottles, people were perfectly free to throw them away as many did.
As the article says, in states with such bills, recycling rates are substantially higher than in states without deposit laws.
ModernDay Publius: "Many people asked local governments to provide such services and most now do. That is the way this Country works. We should not tax people to make them behave a certain way."
So, does local government work for free? I still do not understand how you suggest to protect the freedoms of victims of waste.
California isn't so easy and they are picky about the bottles. Many people in California just toss them, as gas is so costly to return them to a recycling center.
It looks like I should stop buying plastic water bottles though. I didn't realize until recently how bad they were.
Congress should be spending their time on more important issues. Re-cycling is very important, but that is not the way to go about it - fools.
I fail to understand what the problem is. Give me back 5 cents on every bottle or whatever - reward me for doing the right thing. Go back to glass - what's wrong with that.
Give me a trash can for glass - our city does - we have one for glass, paper and alu.
Why is it so hard to get this thru someones head that we have to start recycling on a global level. What in the world is there to argue about and to legislate?
Pepsi printing messages - get out - that is the stove calling the kettle black. Shut up and change back to glass and save the money for those extra printing costs or donate it to a children's cause - really.
It is amazing to me that there even has to be a discussion about this - a law - gee - get over yourself - just teach your kids to re-cycle and move on to find ways to deal with our water situation.
The Pacific Institute estimates that producing those bottles for American consumption in 2006 required the equivalent of more than 17 million barrels of oil, not including the energy for transportation. Also, 3 liters of water were used to produce 1 liter of bottled water, and the bottles produced more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide. Additional energy is needed to fill the bottles with water at the factory, move it by truck, train, ship, or air freight to the user, cool it in grocery stores or home refrigerators, and recover, recycle, or throw away the empty bottles. The Pacific Institute estimates that the total amount of energy embedded in our use of bottled water can be as high as the equivalent of filling a plastic bottle one quarter full with oil.
I recycle every item I can. I have for years. I totally support it. I'm just not sure a bottle return tax is the way.