Having traveled extensively in the state, I am often saddened by how much recyclable litter is along the highways, city streets, and waterways. Driving on highways in Michigan or walking the street in New York City my make you notice how fewer bottles and cans litter the ground. In those states, a five or ten cent surcharge is added to the cost of any bottle or can, which is then redeemed when the bottles are returned to retailers for recycling. The retailers forward their surcharges to the manufacturers and get back money for redeeming the used bottles. A bottle bill hugely increases recycling and reduces litter. In cities and on highways, recyclable litter does not stay on the street because someone will want to pick them up to claim the redemption value. Stores will also be encouraged to put out recycling bins so they can redeem the bottles. Having worked at a high school with a bottle and can recycling program, I can attest that if our school could redeem the bottles we collect in our donated recycling bins, we could bring the school a substantial new source of income.
Some may argue that a bottle bill would lead to people from out of state returning bottles here that were purchased elsewhere, however the states with bottle bills currently have had no loss of profits for local businesses because of the redemption. States with bottle bills have not reached 100% redemption, and they have either allowed the manufacturer to keep the unclaimed deposits, or put the money in a state fund. Either way, the effects of the bill would be the same and retailers would not have to pay out of pocket. Also, Maryland, West Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina have all considered bottle bills in their last assembly sessions. Virginia’s parks, roads and cities would benefit from the effects of a bottle bill.
