E-M:/ congressional hearing on national bottle deposit

["Dave Dempsey" <davemec@voyager.net>]

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Enviro-Mich message from "Dave Dempsey" <davemec@voyager.net>
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This is good news for Michiganians who have learned to live with and
appreciate the benefits of our deposit law -- enacted by the voters of the
state themselves in 1976 over fierce resistance from industrial
organizations.  Maybe Michigan citizens should send testimonials to Senator
Jeffords.

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Senate Committee to Consider National Bottle Bill
Spurred on by recent studies showing that recycling contributes
significantly to employment and economic activity in the U.S., Sen. Jim
Jeffords (I-Vt.) has called for the first Senate hearing on a national
bottle bill since 1992.  A hearing on the measure is scheduled for July 11
in the Environment and Public Works Committee, which Jeffords chairs.
Jeffords' bill would establish a minimum refundable deposit of 10 cents for
all beverage containers and require companies to submit beverage management
plans to the EPA.
A November 2001 U.S. Recycling Economic Information Study said that
recycling and reuse in the United States employs 1.1 million people through
56,000 government institutions and private companies, with a yearly payroll
of $36.7 billion. The total contribution of recycling to government revenues
is $45 billion annually.
At least 10 states have enacted bottle bills and in April, Hawaii moved
closer to becoming the 11th when the legislature passed a measure requiring
5 cent deposits on plastic, glass and aluminum beverage containers. (TNU,
May 7, 2002.) The first was passed by Oregon in 1971.  Jeffords says his
legislation differs from past national attempts because it sets a
performance standard and allows companies the flexibility to reach that
standard using the most efficient means.
Jeffords' bill is likely to encounter resistance from such organizations as
the National Food Processors Association, National Association of Plastic
Container Recovery (NAPCOR), and National Grocers Association. NAPCOR
President Luke Schmidt said the bill would be too expensive for retailers
who have to process the returned bottles. On the other side of the debate
will be environmental groups and organizations representing municipal
officials. "We know [the 80 percent] standard is achievable because it is
currently being achieved in states that require refundable deposits on their
beverage cans and bottles," said Pat Franklin, executive director of the
Container Recycling Institute. "This new approach, one that requires
producers to take responsibility for their packaging waste through the use
of deposits, can reverse the beverage container wasting trend, saving
energy, natural resources, and tax dollars in the process."  (Greenwire,
June 4, 2002.)




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