March 12, 2010
Recycling bill has local roots
FAIRMONT - Minnesotans could raise $90 million for the state budget, clean up the environment and not even notice they are doing it.
If legislation proposed by 2003 Fairmont Area High School graduate Sarah Heuer and her research partner, Ben Olson, passes the House and Senate, the Minnesota Recycling Refund Act could do all these things without raising taxes.
Their bill consists of instituting a 10-cent deposit on recyclable beverage containers.
Heuer and Olson focused on the so-called "bottle bill" after determining that the 11 states with refund systems have significantly higher recycling rates.
Iowa has an 85 percent rate compared to Minnesota's 35 percent rate.
"We think of ourselves as a green state," Heuer said, "and we aren't doing a very good job."
The program works like this: Purchasers of beverages packaged in glass, plastic and metal containers under 3 liters would pay an additional 10 cents per container at the time of purchase. When they return the container, they get their deposit back.
Heuer believes a program of this kind would increase how many bottles are recycled, and for those that are not, the deposit would be remitted to the state. If 80 percent of users recycle their bottles, the additional 20 percent that would go to the state would total $90 million.
In addition to the possible funding source, Heuer said $200 million currently is spent on disposing of beverage container trash, an amount that would decrease as recycling increases.
According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, about 142,000 tons of beverage containers are thrown in the trash each year.
Half the money raised would be directed to county recycling programs, and half would be funneled into the environmental fund.
"Which is good," Heuer said, "since they are getting their funding cut."
The duo's plan doesn't replace curbside recycling, but instead attempts to incentivise recycling for those on the go.
Milk containers, which technically fit the definitions in the bill for a bottle that could need a deposit, won't be included in the bill as they are not typically littering roadways and are easily recycled from home.
"People don't really drink a gallon of milk at Little League," Heuer said.
Containers could be returned to grocery stores or recycling centers, but reverse vending machines open the opportunity for anyone who wants to be part of the movement.
Consumers simply bring their empties to the machine, where they separate bottles into material types. The machine spits out a refund and the consumer is on their way.
A 1-cent handling charge is paid by the beverage distributor to the redemption-center handler to cover the cost of returning the bottles in the machine.
Heuer said some people have raised concerns about the program increasing the initial cost of beverages - a 12-pack of soda would go up $1.20 - but states that have implemented the program have found no difference in buying trends from before a refund program was instituted.
"You don't really notice (the cost upfront)," she said, "and then when you redeem it you feel like you are getting free money."
The recycling bill is making its way through the Legislature at the same time the Pollution Control Agency's goal for increasing the recycling rate in the state to 80 percent is nearing its Jan. 1, 2012, deadline.
The agency has indicated if it does not meet its goal by that date, it will "recommend stronger action be taken."
Heuer feels her program fits the bill.
Heuer and Olson have been traveling the state to drum up grassroots support. They say the support they have found with environmental groups, legislators, and common people is encouraging and has gained momentum faster than even they expected.
"It just makes sense," Olson said.
He expects action in the Legislature near the end of the session, as lawmakers look for ways to increase the state's budget without raising taxes.
More information about the project is available at recyclingrefund.com
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