Dive Brief:
A high-profile EPR for packaging bill did not pass in New York before the end of the legislative session this weekend, despite last-minute updates meant to address stakeholder concerns.
HARTFORD, Conn. -- A coalition of Connecticut groups and lawmakers in support of new state bottle-deposit legislation are rallying in honor of Earth Day to raise awareness about reducing plastic waste.
At the direction of local musician Freddy B, New Haveners marked Earth Day by singing, clapping and waving posters to the chorus of the anti-war classic “Give Peace A Chance.”
The event united organizations that promote anti-gun violence, climate justice, and peace/antiwar causes. Earth/Peace Day also served as a public response to a non-binding referendum on the 2020 municipal election ballot, in which 83 percent of voters approved a call for redirecting national military spending to cities for an environmentally sustainable economy, jobs, and human needs.
Bottle deposit machines on every corner. Breezes free of incinerated trash particles. No litter in sight.
Climate activist Louis Rosado Burch painted this idyllic picture to Dwight neighbors as the outcome if the Connecticut General Assembly passes a new version of the bottle bill.
“I personally believe it will eliminate litter from nips,” Burch said.
Burch, Connecticut program director for the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, pitched the bill at the monthly Dwight Central Management Team meeting held virtually Tuesday night.
Connecticut’s container deposit law (aka “the Bottle Bill”) was enacted in 1978 and has served as a critically important recycling program—capturing billions of single-serve beverage containers for recycling, reducing pollution and litter, and saving municipalities millions in solid waste costs over time.
Unfortunately, the program is out of date and has not kept up with changing market trends and inflation. As a result, Connecticut’s redemption rate has fallen to around 49% (a 44% drop since 2001). Instead of being recycled, more than 69,000 tons of glass, plastic and aluminum is being disposed of as solid waste every year!
The Solution: Modernize Connecticut’s Bottle Bill! Proposed legislation (S.B. 1037) would modernize the state’s existing container deposit program in 3 important ways:
Improve consumer convenience: Requiring bottle deposit machines in more locations across the state will make it easier for everyone to take bottles back!
Expand the program to cover more beverage container types: By expanding the Bottle Bill to include beverage types that have become very popular, Connecticut can virtually eliminate unsightly litter from juices, teas, sports drinks and miniature liquor bottles!
Raise the deposit from $.05 to $.10: States like Michigan and Oregon have a $.10 deposit and boast redemption rates of 80 - 90%! Litter from improperly discarded bottles and cans has effectively been eradicated.
Additional action: Take just 60 seconds to fill out a quick survey so we can get your feedback on the Bottle Bill!
Thanks for taking action. Together we make a difference!
Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE
HARTFORD, Conn. -- A coalition of Connecticut groups and lawmakers in support of new state bottle-deposit legislation are rallying in honor of Earth Day to raise awareness about reducing plastic waste.
Senate Bill 1037 in part raises the deposit value to 10 cents, creates more return sites, and expands what kind of containers can be returned for money.
