April-Jun 2006
Issue Coordinator’s Report:
Extreme Makeover for NJ:
Time for a Bottle Bill
An extreme makeover is needed for New Jersey. We must address our litter problem, half of which is recyclable. Our sadly polluted roadsides, parks, beaches, and waterways cannot be good for the state’s public image. The time has come for a container deposit bill, which in New York State was called the Returnable Container Act (RCA).
Littering is illegal. Litterbugs create an atmosphere of lawlessness which breeds contempt for all our laws. Having inmates in orange vests removing the trash along our highways does not make sense. These prisoners should be learning marketable skills, rather than picking up after lawless citizens.
Better enforcement of existing litter laws, and higher fines, would help. But, given the higher priorities of other tasks, it is unlikely that we can rely on the police to be effective. We have to address the “point source” of the problem. An RCA, by mandating a 5¢ or 10¢ refundable deposit on each beverage container, has worked well in eleven other states.
Litter affects all of us. Broken glass is dangerous to people and wildlife. Since NJ is a coastal state, the plastic goes into our rivers, bays, and the ocean—killing marine life such as turtles. The problem of plastics is expected to get worse as more people drink bottled water. The US consumes more bottled water than any other nation. Deposits make consumers responsible for their purchases and manufacturers responsible for their products.
Government should not have to collect private sector recyclable products. In states with an RCA, glass producers and aluminum industries get back a raw material for reuse that is far cheaper and more energy-conserving than the primary raw materials of sand and ore, respectively. A container deposit would also help conserve raw materials and energy resources used in manufacturing aluminum and plastic, which is a global warming issue.
Recycling rates in New Jersey have dropped from 45% to 33% since 1995. Up to 25% of containers collected are trashed at recycling centers. The system is ineffective and wastes our tax dollars. There is a proposed Recycling Enhancement Act that may help, but an RCA would be more effective.
New Jersey is far dirtier than the 11 States which have deposits: New York, Delaware, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, California, Hawaii, Michigan, Iowa, and Oregon. Since the RCA of 1983 in New York, litter has been reduced by 75% and 80% of their containers are recycled. Deposits remove more hazardous, non-biodegradable items from the waste stream.
In New Jersey only 30% of plastic containers are being recycled, meaning that 70% are discarded in landfills or incinerated. Only 50% of our aluminum cans are being recycled. One trillion aluminum cans have been trashed in the US from 1972-2003. A deposit bill will conserve the energy needed in aluminum manufacturing.
Michigan’s successful RCA, initiated in 1978, imposes a 10¢ refundable deposit on all single-use or refillable containers: beer, soft drinks, juice, carbonated and mineral water, wine, and liquor bottles and cans. 25% of the unredeemed deposits go to the retailers for handling fees and 75% goes to the state treasury.
The Sierra Club’s New Jersey Chapter is only beginning to study the issue of Solid Waste and Recycling to develop strategies that address the overall problem. We will be considering what action is appropriate in view of the dire circumstances of our environment. Current measures do not address the problem of wasted resources.
Enacting an RCA will require public support, which will involve consumer and voter education, and working with our legislators, NJDEP officials, members of the NJ Clean Communities Council, and public interest and environmental groups. An informed public is the way to overcome the special interests.
The beverage industry, supermarkets, large retailers, and the recycling and refuse industry will oppose changing the status quo. Common Cause reports that over the past four years opponents of expanded deposit legislation in Connecticut spent $704,722 to fund political action committees and political campaigns.
Considerable information is available on the internet. For background please go to the Container Recycling Institute websites:www.container-recycling.org and/or www.bottlebill.org Enacting an RCA in New Jersey is the right thing to do. Ten other states, including New Hampshire are considering similar legislation. Here are some expected results:
- Reduces litter by 75%
- Cleaner environment
- Reduces global warming
- Reduces hazards to Coastal wildlife
- Helps to improve the image of New
- Jersey
- Increases observance of litter and
- recycling laws
- Increases recycling from the present
- 33% to 80%
- Conserves our natural and energy
- Resources Recycles more plastic and reduces U.S. dependency on oil
- Creates an incentive for consumers and industry to recycle
- Encourages use of and/or production of reusable containers Reclaims aluminum, a very desirable recyclable substance
- Solves green glass problem by returning to the distributor
- Keeps more recyclables out of landfills and incinerators
- Saves precious tax dollars by reducing Government
- Creates additional revenue for New Jersey
- Makes the producers of containers Responsible
- Creates private sector jobs Increases property values
- Increases tourism
To the 23,000 NJ Sierra Club members, local Group leaders, and advocates for the environment, there is a lot of hard work ahead. We invite your suggestions, participation, and commitment. Together, we can give New Jersey a much-needed makeover and make our state a better place to live.
