January 20, 2007
Our Readers Speak
West Virginia needs to pass a bottle bill
Sunday, The Register-Herald gave front page coverage to the attack of a consultant from Maine on the bottle bill before the West Virginia Legislature. Although it was obvious that Mr. Dietly was a paid spokesperson for industry groups fighting litter control, responsible reporting would seem to require that this be stated in the article.
A quick Internet search reveals that for over 20 years Mr. Dietly has lobbied for the soft drink industry across the country against laws establishing deposits on drink containers.
However, in a talk given to the Interbev Conference in 1994, he had to concede the success of Maine’s bottle bill, in effect since 1976.
He said the following: “The cost to consumers is insignificant ... Prices were not affected ... Sales were not affected ... Return rates are estimated at 93 percent, 94 percent and 95 percent.”
We in West Virginia are awash in bottle litter. For our quality of life and for our environment we must pass a bottle bill now.
Let’s follow the path of Mr. Dietly’s state of Maine — and let’s ignore Mr. Dietly’s advice for us.
Craig Robinson
Beckley
http://www.register-herald.com/letters/local_story_019201605.html
