Battle over Delaware bottle bill continues

Delaware this summer dodged a repeal of its bottle bill, which requires a refundable deposit on purchases of bottled beverages. But this issue is far from dead in Delaware.

Governor Jack Markell in June vetoed legislation that would have repealed the state's bottle bill. Those who were pushing for the repeal argued that the bottle bill was flawed and was hampering curbside recycling efforts. Now activists in favor of keeping and strengthening the bottle have more work to do in convincing Delaware state legislators not to override the governor's veto and to support a revamped bottle bill to be introduced in January.

One of the common criticisms of bottle bills is that they discourage curbside recycling. Proponents of the repeal hauled out that same tired excuse in Delaware, even though numerous studies show that they actually increase recycling. Also, curbside recycling is not as widely available in Delaware as the bill implied, according to the online Bottle Bill Resource Guide.

We've never really understood this particular objection to bottle bills. The crux seems to be that if consumers can't recycle bottles and cans at the curbside, then they won't bother with recycling at all. While it's certainly more convenient to be able to throw all your recyclables into one container, it requires very little extra effort to sort and separate recyclables. In fact, many municipalities require residents to do that. Those of us who recycle already separate our trash from our recyclables.

It may take a while to get into the habit of sorting refundable containers from recyclables, but to argue that is an onerous task is ridiculous.

Don't we sort our laundry? And our groceries, storing the perishables in the refrigerator and freezer and the rest in the pantry? So, what's the big deal about sorting recyclables? Do it long enough, and it will become habit -- just one of those things we do.

For more on bottle bills, check out this link on Break Free 411.

New York To Require Deposits on Bottled Water

Later this month, New York will begin requiring a 5-cent deposit on bottled water. New Yorkers already have to pay a deposit when they purchase sodas, carbonated beverages, wine coolers and beer. That deposit is refundable if they return the empty bottles and cans to a local store for recycling.

Consumer sentiments about the new law are mixed. Some resident believe the deposits will have a positive environmental impact because they will discourage people from trashing their empty water bottles. But others are bemoaning the fact that the new law will raise the price of a case of water by more than $2.

New York state, where some 2.5 billion bottles of water are sold annually, is one of only 11 states that requires deposits on bottled and canned beverages. It is one of only six states requiring deposits on bottled water. Connecticut just began requiring a 5-cent deposit on bottled water on Oct. 1.

Bottle bills usually dramatically improve recycling rates in the states where they are enacted. So, it's likely that New Yorkers will stop contributing to the steady stream of bottled water waste that winds up in landfills.

State officials are projecting an increase in recycling, according to an article on MPNnow.com:

“Water is about 25 percent of the overall beverage market,” said Laura Haight, senior environmental associate for the New York Public Interest Research Group. “With the expansion, we’re capturing about 90 percent of the beverages we believe should have deposits on them.”

Earlier state laws required deposits on soda and other carbonated beverages, wine coolers and beer, with a study showing they raised aluminum can recycling from less than 20 percent to more than 80 percent.