Container deposit law

[from Kevin Morton]

Has anyone heard if there have been any recent attempts to pass legislation in DC requiring a deposit on beverage containers? Although it would take some time, once implemented, I can guarantee that we would see a dramatic transformation in neighborhoods, such as Petworth, with persistent litter problems.

When I go to visit my family in Maine, one of the first states to pass this sort of legislation, I am always amazed at how clean it is. I seem to recall that the issue of container deposit legislation came up a few years before I moved to DC in 1990, but it didn't go anywhere. There is a core group of interests in DC that I am sure fought it then and would certainly fight it in the future. Grocery stores and residential property management companies come to mind.

Kevin

Comments

[Pat Franklin]

This discussion is interesting and timely. I hope those of you with an interest in deposit legislation will check out our website. Our website will answer many of your questions. Please lookk for our "Ten-Cent Incentive to Recycle" publication as well as our Bottle Bill Toolkit. There also numberous powerpoint presentations on our websites. You might be interested in the ppt prez I gave at the Plastic Debris--Rivers to Sea Conference last week in LA. If you send me an email I'll email it to you. It's not on our site yet. By the way, we're located in the DC area, in Rosslyn. You should also know that there are many others interested in a DC bottle bill.

[Kevin Morton]

Thanks for bringing this up with Mr. Fenty. Yes, I agree that bottling companies will be the main opposition to having a container deposit in DC.

As far as how the deposit works...
No public funds would be involve in the deposit process. The consumer pays a deposit to the bottling company or beverage distributor (through the retail establishment where the beverage is purchased) and it is returned to the consumer at the bottle redemption location when the container is returned. Containers purchased from non-deposit jurisdictions can't be redeemed for a deposit refund. Containers from states that have a deposit are labeled as such. One could purchase a beverage from one deposit state and redeem it in another state with a deposit, but containers from non-deposit states are not redeemable.

See a deposit label at the following link:

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dshm/redrecy/rcadeal.htm

[Naidee]

I have had conversations with Councilmember Fenty and DDOT Director (can't remember his name) and the latter thought maybe now WOULD be a good time to try again. California is having great successes and many are in the business of collecting the containers all over the state. They also have very strong public service announcements related to the topic of recycling more generally.

I believe I heard the bottling companies were the biggest ($$$)opposers to such efforts.

The other challenge I think would be that folks buying MD and VA containers without the cost attached ($.05 or whatever) would then be able to cash in on DC's expense, right? A regional or three-state attempt would be best.

Thanks for raising the issue. I hope something evolves again!

[Kevin Morton]

Colin-

I posted this as a discussion topic, not as an information source. Perhaps you'd like to participate and share your thoughts on the implications of this sort of legislation. You could even jump on Google and find some pro/con links and post them here.

With regard to your question......Property managers might perceive container sorting as an overly burdensome task. In reality, I believe, their residents will return their own containers to redemption centers for the deposit. Honestly, that one just came off the top of my head.

As far as your insinuation that a container deposit will close small neighborhood stores.......Little mom & pop stores in and around Portland, Maine are going strong. I spun pizza and sorted bottles/cans at a corner store all through my high school years for a guy named Michael Taliento. I'm not sure why, but all the corner stores around Portland are owned by Italian families. I graduated over 20 years ago, but even today, you can drive up to Westbrook, Maine and get a yummy Italian sub and a Moxie at Michael's Deli & Variety. Just be prepared to pay an extra 5 cents for the deposit. If it's a nice day, you might want to walk a block down Bridge Street and eat your lunch on a bench along the Presumpscot River. Westbrook is not known for its beauty or charm, but the view isn't too bad for an old mill town. After lunch, if you get back to your car and realize that you left that empty Moxie can on the bench by the river, no big deal. Some thrifty Yankee has already scooped up that can and is on his way to Michael's Deli so he can exchange it for the nickel deposit.

The cycle is complete and the streets of blue collar, Franco-American, working class Westbrook, are as clean as the streets in upscale, over on the Mayflower, old-money Kennebunkport. And some dorky kid has a boring job sorting bottles so he can save a few bucks toward his U Maine tuition. Go Bears!

Kevin

[Colin]

Please explain why residential property management companies would fight container deposits? I don't see the connection. I can see why those selling the goods would not want it, especially the great little mom and pop corner stores that I really enjoy having in the area.

What other implications of this legislation can you provide (an unbiased, both-sides list or link would be nice)?

[Lisa Swanson]

I worked on that campaign, which was in 1986, I think. You're right that the usual suspects fought it hard and expensively.

The time may be ripe again. Other jurisdictions have been successful more recently. How environmental and progressive would you rank our mayor and council? Mayor and council wannabes?