Explaining the Bottle Bill
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) was adopted in 1976 to define the role of the federal government in solid waste and resource management and recovery. As part of RCRA, the federal government intended to: 1) reduce solid waste and encourage recycling efforts by fostering collaboration between federal, state and local agencies as well as private entities, 2) promote public education regarding recycling and 3) establish solid waste management guidelines that encourage recycling for municipalities. (GAO 2006)
Local and state government agencies are mainly responsible for recycling programs, deciding what materials to collect, how to collect them, who collects and processes them, and how to conduct education and outreach programs. Some states require municipalities to operate recycling programs. Beverage container recycling programs, commonly referred to as “bottle bills,” are one important example.
Beverage Container Deposits
Bottle bills require deposits on beverage containers, such as bottles and cans, at the time of purchase. These deposits can be totally or partially recovered by individuals who recycle these containers. The first such bill was passed in Oregon in 1971. Eleven states currently operate bottle bill programs, and these states differ in how unredeemed deposits are dispersed. Most states allow consumers to return beverage containers to either retailers or participating recycling centers. A summary of each state’s deposit program is provided as follows:
- California (imposed September 29, 1986): A five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by a state-managed fund.
- Connecticut (April 12, 1978): A five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
- Delaware (June 30, 1982): A five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
- Hawaii (June 25, 2002): Distributors pay a five-cent per container deposit into a special state fund on a monthly basis. Distributors charge retailers the deposit on each container purchased by the retailer, and the retailer in turn charges the consumer the deposit. Unredeemed deposits are retained by a state-managed fund.
- Iowa (April 1978): At least a five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
- Maine (12 January 1976): A five-cent deposit is imposed on beer, soft drink, wine cooler, non-alcoholic carbonated and non-carbonated beverage containers, and a 15-cent deposit is imposed on wine and other liquor beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by the state General Fund.
- Massachusetts (January 1983): A five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by a state Clean Environment Fund.
- Michigan (November 2, 1976): A 10-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained at 75 percent by a state-managed fund and 25 percent by retailers.
- New York (June 15, 1982): At least a five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
- Oregon (July 2, 1971): A two-cent deposit is imposed on all standardized refillable beverage containers, and a 5-cent deposit is imposed on all non-standardized refillable beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
- Vermont (7 April 1972): A five-cent deposit is imposed on beer, malt, soft drink, mineral and soda water, and wine cooler beverage containers, and a 15-cent deposit is imposed on liquor beverage containers greater than 50 milliliters. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
Those 11 states currently having bottle bill programs report higher recycling rates for beverage containers than states without such programs. California, for example, reported a 60 percent recycling rate for its beverage containers between January and December 2006; during that year, over 13 billion containers were recycled, which was 814 million more than the year prior.
California leads the nation in the total quantity of bottles and cans recycled. (DOC 2007) As well, states with deposit programs have generally maintained higher recycling rates for beverage containers than the U.S. average rate.
Bottle bill opponents call deposit requirements a “tax” fronted by taxpayers. However, one-way, throwaway, no-deposit, no-return beverage containers are a corporate subsidy, a hidden tax. Taxpayers absorb the cost of disposing of beverage containers. And many taxpayers absorb the costs of recycling beverage containers through curbside recycling programs.
When there is a refundable deposit on beverage containers, the consumers (not taxpayers) pay the deposit. The deposit is refunded if the container is returned. And the beverage distributors and bottlers absorb the cost of collection. They then chose whether or not to pass their costs on to their consumers. Because 70 percent or more of the deposit containers are returned, taxpayers pay less for disposal and less for litter pickup and less for curbside recycling.
National Recycling Program
Based on a recent report published by the General Accounting Office on municipal recycling, recycling stakeholders interviewed encouraged, as the second most frequently cited policy option, increasing municipal recycling via adoption of a federal bottle bill. The National Beverage Producer Responsibility Act of 2003 was introduced to the Senate, which referred the bill on November 14 to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
The bill was introduced to the Committee three days later by Senator Jeffords (I-VT), but no action has as yet been taken on the bill.
Did You Know?
- Aluminum, discovered in the 1820s, is the most abundant metal on the planet.
- The average lifespan of a recycled aluminum can is 80 to 100 years. It can take 500 years for an aluminum can to degrade in a landfill!
- Americans throw away enough aluminum every three months to rebuild our country’s entire commercial air fleet.
- The oldest known examples of glass are Egyptian beads dating from 12,000 B.C.
- The average lifespan of a glass bottle disposed in a landfill is 1,000,000 years (Yes, one million years!!!). If recycled, a glass bottle can “live” indefinitely!
- Since 1980, the average weight of a glass container has been reduced by more than 10%.
- Plastic soda bottles were first used to package beverages in 1970, but it was not until the 1980s that the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle became widely used. PET is a plastic resin and form of polyester. PET is the type of plastic labeled with the code on or near the bottom of bottles and containers. It is used to package soft drinks, water, juice, peanut butter and household cleaners, among other things. PET is a good choice for packaging because it is inexpensive, lightweight, shatter-resistant, resealable and recyclable.
- The average lifespan of a PET plastic bottle disposed in a landfill is 700 years.
- Recycling a ton of PET containers can save 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space.
- Examples of products derived from recycled bottles and cans include, but are certainly not limited to:
- Glass – Tile, fiberglass insulation, “glasphalt” for highway construction, home décor
- Aluminum – Baseball bats, pie plates, new soda and beverage containers, aluminum foil, license plates, home décor
- Plastic – Carpet, clothing (t-shirts, shoes, sweaters, coats), luggage, toy
- Bottle Bill Resource Guide, 2007 http://www.bottlebill.org.
- (12/31/1969). "Biannual Report of Beverage Container Sales, Returns, Redemption, and Recycling Rates." California Department of Conservation (DOC)
- (12/31/1969). "Waste and Opportunity: U.S. Beverage Container Recycling Scorecard and Report" Container Recycling Institute (CRI)
- (12/31/1969). "Additional Efforts Could Increase Municipal Recycling. Report No. GAO-07-37." General Accounting Office (GAO)
- Author Unknown. Green Gift Guide, 2007. http://www.greengiftguide.com/begreen_facts.php.
shotchkiss
posted on October 9th, 2007 at 12:29 am
It is meaningless to say that California recycles the most bottles when we also have the largest population. A percentage would be much more appropriate. Because California’s population is the largest we are very likely to have the most of a lot of things – prisoners, divorces, children, teen mothers, garbage, unbrellas, swatches, ect. This does not say anything really about California’s population.
3 Simple Ways Your Recycling Bin will Save You Money | Working For Financial Freedom
posted on October 9th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
[...] sure if your state charges a bottle deposit? Twelve states do, see if your state is one of [...]
manofmackinac
posted on November 28th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Michigan; I believe that our state governments should review previous legislation, etc related to bottle returns. In 1976 Michigan initiated a bottle return (deposit program). This program was beneficial for its day. Now we have many different types of bottled water and bottled drinks. Unless people have an interest in saving our planet…these plastic bottled do not make it to the recycling center, but instead end up in landfills. If there was a deposit placed on each and EVERY plastic bottle container; there would be so many highways, streets, etc clear of at least this portion of waste. Implement a deposit program for all bottles and help get these plastic bottles where they belong…in a bottle return. Thanks so much,
RWZ
Dave Buchanan
posted on November 28th, 2008 at 9:28 am
How come only 11 out 50 states only have a bottle/can recycling program. When I was a kid I used to walk around the out skirts of the city and pick up returnables. After only a few miles of walking and picking up what I could, I would have a handful of change. Glass containers are the worst not to recycle. Broken bottles in the woods on walking trails. These shards of glass injury animals that have no idea what glass is. I don’t mind at all about paying a deposit for bottles and cans because I return them and I also pick as much as I can while out walking. Please consider our next generation and keep recycling, it doesn’t hurt to help…
Deb Q
posted on November 30th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
What is the main resistance of States to impose bottle return bills? What are the costs to impose? What are the logistics?
Pepper Pascal
posted on December 26th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I’m with Deb Q. Why do many states NOT have these bills?
Denver Moody
posted on January 1st, 2009 at 12:53 am
If you want to check out an awesome beverage container recycling system, Alberta, Canada is the place. We just raised deposit levels to $.10 (litre and under) $.25 (over a litre) and we aim to top 85% recover rate. In June 09 we are including all dairy beverage containers in our deposit system and look forward to a marked increase in recycling of all milk containers. We have a world class system that I am proud of.
DM
larry
posted on January 5th, 2009 at 11:51 am
The biggest reason there are only 11 states that have a bottle bill are politics, greedy corporations and the old philosiphy of the media to explote the folks who control the purse strings. The main opponents of the bottle bill here in West Virginia are bottlers such as coke, pepsi, budweiser. They say the cost is to great. They have spent millions to defeat the bottle bill. Years ago the opposition only spent about a half a mill. If they would have let the public decide back then they could have actualy saved money. There biggest concerns are the amount of money it will take to convert the despensers. Little do they realize that the price tag goes up with every passing year. I am happy to see this generation getting on the green theme. Some of us older folks have been green for years. We have been called nuts, freaks amoung other names. Now iy has become swavy to be eco friendly!! Been waiting for this day since 1964!!
Sal Quaratino
posted on January 7th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Does anybody know if the bottle says CA only and you live in New York, can you cash in the bottle for money?
Dynamo
posted on March 2nd, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I agree w//everyone, and to RWZ of Mackinac, you’re right on with the exception that the deposit amount needs to be increased to make it worth people’s effort (those of course who aren’t as green). Come on, if these started in the early ’70’s at $0.05, you’re an idiot to start a new program today and charge $0.05. If the stamps keep going up, I’d say start at $0.25 and of course include plastic water bottles, juice containers and any beverage containers possible. Additionally, create more green jobs by setting up refillable stations where glass containers are sterilized for reuse. Doesn’t a soda taste better in glass?
Dynamo
Holly
posted on March 12th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Maybe someone can answer this question: I do not live in a state that has deposit laws, however my state borders a state that does. Could i drive in and cash out? How do you do this… and would that be ethical? Do you have to have residency in that state?
Russell
posted on April 6th, 2009 at 8:12 am
You do not have to have residency in the state. Any can that has the redemption symbol for a state can be redeemed there. If you are on the border with a bottle bill state, you are lucky! If you feel that you’re taking advantage of the situation, then you probably are, but you can make up for it by purchasing something in the bottle bill state. Supporting their economy instead of the non bottle state. If it ever becomes a problem to the point that the bottle bill state is losing money on cross border redemptions, they will start to require proof of residency. Until that time, keep up the good work. Especially for the states that the excess funds are retained by the distributors or bottlers. They profit by a nickle a can for every one that gets trashed or recycled in bulk, so they are not hurting at all when it comes to benefiting from the bottle bill.
lauren
posted on April 28th, 2009 at 10:18 am
I am trying to get a Bottle Bill passed in Colorado. If you are willing to help please let me know. I am at the ground level right now and would greatly appreciate more help and voices.
Thanks,
Lauren
marie
posted on June 16th, 2009 at 11:57 am
check on Michigan laws concerning the deposit returns from other states. This state post that it is punishable by a fine and possible jail time to return for deposit from another state.
Jim-Jimm
posted on July 19th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
NIce article. Really nice! But i think that you could give some more info on a couple of points. However, keep on developing your great site! :)