February 4, 2010
Del. lawmakers, gov at odds over bottle deposits
DOVER, Del.
Gov. Jack Markell and state lawmakers agree that unclaimed bottle deposits in Delaware should be put to good use, but they don't agree on what that use should be.
State officials estimate that about $3 million in unredeemed bottle deposits winds up in the hands of beverage distributors each year.
A new survey showing that more than 241,000 Delaware residents received charity food assistance last year has energized sponsors of a bill that would direct unredeemed bottle deposits into a fund to help charitable organizations feed the needy.
Gov. Jack Markell has other ideas, though. He wants to replace the current five-cent deposit on bottled soft drinks and beer with a two-cent-per-bottle nonrefundable fee to support curbside recycling programs.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9DLHH4G0.htm
