June 24, 2002
Bottle
Opener: National Deposit Will
Finally
Get Chance in Congress
Michigan's 26-year-old bottle return law has worked so well to reduce litter and reuse resources it's hard to believe we're one of only 10 states to have one. But U.S. Sen. Jim Jeffords, I-Vermont, has vowed to give a national bottle bill its first thorough public legislative hearing in a decade in the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee, which he chairs. It's about time.
More than 114 billion beverage containers were thrown away rather than recycled in 1999, a 50-percent increase in bottle and can waste since 1992, according to the Container Recycling Institute. Efforts to create a national container deposit law have traditionally been thwarted by special interests -- bottlers, distributors and retailers. This despite the fact that more bottles and cans are recycled in the 10 states with deposits than in the 40 without. Jeffords' initiative would mandate a 10-cent deposit and a target of 80 percent recycling of bottles and cans, leaving the details up to industry.
It faces a huge uphill fight. But even if it never leaves committee after its July 11 hearing, the bill will again establish a public dialogue on an issue that -- if common sense were the only consideration -- would be a no-brainer.
Congress hasn't had a
bona fide deposit-law champion since the untimely passing of west
Michigan Congressman Paul Henry in 1993. Henry would be proud to
see the delegation from Michigan coalesce behind Jeffords' bill.
He'd also be proud if Michigan legislators found the courage to
buck business opposition to adding juice, water and wine cooler
containers to Michigan's return law. Four of the five major-party
candidates for governor -- Republican Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus is
the lone dissenter -- support such a change. Voters should demand
their legislative candidates do likewise.
