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HARTFORD -- Connecticut's 26-year old bottle bill is under attack by the powerful beer, soda and grocery industries, whose lobbyists succeeded in convincing a few state legislators that mandatory curbside recycling and anti-litter taxes should replace the container deposit law.
Pro-recycling and anti-litter advocates are fighting back. A coalition of recycling businesses, redemption centers, labor unions, and environmentalists was formed last year to educate state lawmakers about the economic and environmental advantages of the deposit law. Once legislators were exposed to the truths as laid out by coalition members, they realized they had been duped by the special interest groups that want to pass the cost of recycling their products onto the general public.
"Coalition members blocked repeal attempts in 2003 and again in 2004", said Chris Phelps, Executive Director of ConnPIRG, "and we remain committed to updating the state's successful bottle bill." Proposed updates will include expanding the law to cover non-carbonated beverages; increasing the deposit to a dime,;increasing the handling fee beyond the current one and a half cents for beer containers and two cents for soda containers; and recovering millions of dollars for the state's coffers by escheating unclaimed deposits from unreturned bottle and cans.
"Connecticut residents are tired of the scandals that forced Governor Rowland's resignation, and they will have little tolerance for the ongoing kowtowing to big money lobbyists in the next legislative session", said Betty McLaughlin, Environmental Affairs Director for the Connecticut Audubon Society. "Updating the bottle bill will be an uphill battle, but with the new President pro tem of the Senate, Donald Williams, Jr. in our corner, chances for success are greater than they have been in years."
Contact: Betty McLaughlin, Connecticut Audubon Society, betty.mclaughlin@snet.net
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