Editorial

Call 4-cent bottle fee a tax, but it's still worth passing

It's been more than 25 years since Delaware legislators and environmental officials started the effort to bring Delaware up to par with other states when it comes to recycling.

First came the voluntary dropoffs at the various igloo locations around the state. That effort didn't make that much of a dent in the state's recycling rate, although it was better than nothing.

Since then, some muncipalities have instituted their own recycling programs that have actually worked fairly well.

Now Gov. Jack Markell has a bill to use the long-ignored 5-cent bottle deposit on certain containers to help finance start-up costs for a statewide, every other week, curbside recycling program.

The proposed legislation, which has easily passed the Senate and and a House committee this week, would require all public and private waste haulers to provide curbside collections for mixed recyclable goods.

The seed money would come from a new, non-refundable 4-cent fee on bottles, replacing the 5-cent deposit.

First the Republicans screamed that the fee was nothing more than a sales tax on certain types of bottles. But it's not as if Delaware doesn't have sales taxes. We have a sales tax on wholesale products, automobiles, tool rentals and hotel rooms.

Now the Republicans scream they are being ignored in legislative matters. Acting like that is probably a good reason to ignore them. Pass the bill.

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100508/OPINION11/5080306/1004/OPINION