July 9, 2008
From a press release
The League of Women Voters of New Jersey supports the Smart Container Act
To the Editor:
The League of Women Voters of New Jersey announced support for A121, the Smart Container Act, which would place a deposit on containers for juice, sports, drinks, bottled waters, soda, wine and beer and allow consumers and retailers to return empty containers for refunds.
This will greatly reduce litter, result in the use of less petroleum to make new products, and decrease the amount of incinerator by-products, which pollute the atmosphere.
In addition, it will mean that fewer recyclable materials will end up in landfills reducing tipping costs and potential contamination of groundwater and saving taxpayers money. The League urges State Representatives to support and pass A121 and for municipalities and counties to implement enhanced recycling programs.
Deposit legislation is a necessary component of any comprehensive recycling and litter collection program. With deposit laws added to recycling mandates, many people who have not been recycling will do so when they can directly benefit from it. And if others put bottles and cans into regular recycling, as some will do who value the convenience of curbside pickup more than the deposit, municipalities can redeem the value of the recycled materials themselves.
When residents return containers instead of throwing them in the garbage, on highways and in parks, the result is fewer containers dumped in landfills, and more material recycled.
However, the already existing Recycling Enhancement Act states that if state beverage deposit legislation like A-121 is passed, the funds available for municipal and county recycling programs will be eliminated. Therefore, the Recycling Enhancement Act must also be amended to allow for continued recycling funding. Deposit legislation and the Recycling Enhancement Act are both needed to allow for a more comprehensive and well-funded recycling program in New Jersey.
http://www.bayshorenews.com/publication/show/2293
