[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 56 (Thursday, April 22, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S4110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JEFFORDS (for himself and Ms. Snowe):
  S. 859. A bill to amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to require a 
refund value for certain beverage containers, to provide resources for 
State pollution prevention and recycling programs, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.


      national beverage container reuse and recycling act of 1999

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I rise today in celebration of Earth Day 
to introduce the National Beverage Container Reuse and Recycling Act of 
1999. I introduce this bill again today because I firmly believe that 
deposit laws are a common sense, proven method to increase recycling, 
save energy, create jobs, and decrease the generation of waste and 
proliferation of landfills. Unfortunately, recycling rates for beverage 
containers have recently dropped, making this legislation even more 
important.
  The experience of ten states, including Vermont, attest to the 
success of a deposit law or bottle bill as it is commonly called. The 
recycling rates in these states for aluminum cans is 80 percent, while 
the overall national average in 1998 was only 55 percent. Cans recycled 
in deposit states accounted for half of all cans recycled in the 
country during this period. Although a national recycling rate of 55 
percent may seem significant, every three seconds, 14,000 aluminum cans 
are discarded as waste.
  Such waste is rapidly overflowing landfills, washing up on our 
beaches, and piling up on our roadways. Our country's solid waste 
problems are very real, and they will continue to haunt us until we 
take action. The throw-away ethic that has emerged in this country is 
not insurmountable, and recycling is part of the solution.
  The concept of a national bottle bill is simple: to provide the 
consumer with an incentive to return the container for reuse of 
recycling. Consumers pay a nominal cost per bottle or can when 
purchasing a beverage and are refunded their money when they bring the 
container back either to a retailer or redemption center. Retailers are 
paid a fee for their participation in the program, and any unclaimed 
deposits are used to finance state environmental programs.
  Under my proposal, a 10-cent deposit on certain beverage containers 
would take effect in states which have beverage container recovery 
rates of less than 70 percent, the minimum recovery rate achieved by 
existing bottle bill states. Labels showing the deposit value would be 
affixed to containers, and retailers would receive a 2-cent fee per 
container for their participation in the program.
  This legislation I introduce today is consistent with our nation's 
solid waste management objectives. A national bottle bill would reduce 
solid waste and litter, save natural resources and energy, and create a 
much needed partnership between consumers, industry, and local 
governments. I urge my colleagues to join these ten states, including 
Vermont, and support a nation-wide bottle deposit law. Because for our 
children, the health of the planet may be our most enduring legacy.
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