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States with container deposit laws tend to have a higher recycling rate than states without them.  Michigan has a 10-cent deposit on its beverage containers, California has a 4- or 8-cent deposit, and the others have a 5-cent deposit.  All five of the deposit states listed have considerably higher recycling rates than the national average, and the national average also includes these deposit states; thus, the recycling rate in non-deposit states is even lower!  To learn more about container deposit laws, visit www.bottlebill.org.

State data based on reported deposit system"redemption rates;" actual recycling rates (including deposit containers collected at curbside) is higher, but data are unavailable.

All state rates include carbonated soft drinks and beer in glass, aluminum and PET plastic. The CA rate also includes non-carbonated beverages and plastic bottles with resins #1-7, and estimates for "CRV" (deposit) containers recycled at curbside.

The U.S recycling rate is for glass, PET, and aluminum cans; it was calculated by CRI using data from sources cited in endnote 1.

State sources: Personal communication with Matt Flechter, Waste Management Division, Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality, August 15th, 2001; Personal communication with Peter Spendelow; California Dept. of Conservation (www.consrv.ca.gov/dor/Dor%20Notices/calendar501.htm); Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality, August 2, 2001; New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 2000.