What is a Bottle Bill? – Overview
The Bottle Bill, also known as a container deposit law, is a policy that requires a refundable deposit to be paid on certain beverage containers such as glass, plastic, and aluminum. This policy is aimed at reducing litter, promoting recycling, and conserving resources. When a consumer purchases a beverage container subject to the Bottle Bill, they pay an additional fee, which is refunded when they return the container to a designated redemption center. The redemption center then collects and sorts the returned containers and returns them to the beverage distributor for recycling or reuse.
The Bottle Bill has been implemented in various forms in many countries, states, and provinces around the world. It has proven to be an effective way of reducing litter, promoting recycling, and conserving resources. In states like Oregon and Michigan where most beverage containers are covered and have a deposit of 10¢, 90% of containers are redeemed. However, there are some criticisms of the Bottle Bill, including that it can be inconvenient for consumers who have to return containers to a redemption center, and that it can be expensive for small retailers who have to handle and store the returned containers. Despite these criticisms, the Bottle Bill remains a popular and effective policy tool for promoting environmental sustainability and reducing waste. Currently, there are 10 states and 1 territory in the United States with Bottle Bills in effect. However, most of these were instituted in the 1970s and 1980s, and are in dire need of modifications to meet the demands of modern-day plastic consumption.
Bottle bills can be seen as a policy tool that promotes circular economy principles, which are a key aspect of doughnut economics. Doughnut economics is an economic model that aims to create a sustainable and equitable future for all by balancing human needs and planetary boundaries.
Bottle bills promote circular economy principles by creating incentives for consumers to recycle their beverage containers, which reduces waste and conserves resources. By requiring a deposit on beverage containers, bottle bills create a financial incentive for consumers to return their empty containers for recycling, rather than throwing them in the trash. This, in turn, helps to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or in the natural environment.
Circular economy principles are also reflected in the fact that bottle bills encourage the reuse of materials. The collected containers are typically sorted and processed for reuse, which conserves resources and reduces the need for new materials.
The “Branded: Five Years of Holding Corporate Plastic Polluters Accountable” report by Break Free From Plastic highlights the role of corporations in contributing to plastic pollution and the need for systemic change to address the issue. The report highlights the top corporate polluters of plastic waste, and calls for a shift towards a circular economy that reduces waste and promotes sustainability.
The Bottle Bill is a policy tool that can help to address plastic pollution by reducing the amount of plastic waste that ends up in the environment. By creating a financial incentive for consumers to recycle their beverage containers, the Bottle Bill can help to reduce the amount of plastic waste that is generated in the first place. The Bottle Bill can also promote a shift towards a circular economy by encouraging the reuse of materials
Click here to learn more about the current State Beverage Container Deposit Laws in effect.
Why are Bottle Bills not Universal?
Bottle bills, also known as container deposit laws, require consumers to pay a deposit on certain beverage containers, which is refunded when the containers are returned for recycling. The influence of corporations on bottle bills can vary depending on the specific circumstances, but generally, corporations can have a significant impact on the implementation and enforcement of these laws.
One way corporations can influence bottle bills is through lobbying efforts. Corporations, particularly those in the beverage industry, may lobby lawmakers to weaken or block bottle bill legislation. They may argue that bottle bills place an undue burden on businesses, increase costs for consumers, or interfere with existing recycling programs. These lobbying efforts can be powerful, as corporations often have substantial financial resources and political influence.
In some cases, corporations may also try to shape public opinion about bottle bills through advertising and other media campaigns. For example, they may argue that bottle bills are ineffective or unnecessary, or that they unfairly target certain types of beverages or packaging.
However, it’s worth noting that not all corporations oppose bottle bills. Some companies, particularly those that prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility, may support these laws and even work to strengthen them. Additionally, advocacy groups and other stakeholders can also play a role in shaping public opinion and influencing lawmakers’ decisions about bottle bills.
How Can I Advocate for a Better Bottle Bill?
- Contact your elected officials and let them know you support a Better Bottle Bill.
- Look up your state senator and representative with Find My Legislator.
- Check the list of legislative cosponsors to see whether they co-sponsored/ endorsed the Better Bottle Bill.
- If they have not co-sponsored the bill yet, ask them to officially add their name as a cosponsor through the Legislature’s system.
- If they are a cosponsor, thank them for their support and ask if they will champion the bill by recruiting their colleagues to endorse the Better Bottle Bill.
- Contact your state representative and senator via phone or email using the materials in Sample Materials on page 4 of this toolkit.
2. Endorsements from local groups/businesses/leaders
We are working to confirm endorsements from the 2021-2022 legislative session, we will add a link here to an updated link later this spring, and then you can do outreach to add to those lists.
3. Write Letters to the Editor (LTEs) or Opinion pieces for your local paper.
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- Keeping the Bottle Bill in the media is a great way to build momentum for the bill. The more attention it gets, the more likely it is we’ll see action on the bill.
- Submit an LTE to your local paper. Check submission requirements, like the word count (~150 words for most papers) before submitting. You can find a sample LTE in the materials section of this toolkit. Here are some starting points and ideas for writing your LTE:
- Your experience living near a river or stream with beverage container litter
- Living near a park or an athletic field with beverage container litter
- Living near a landfill or incinerator
- Not having accessible curbside recycling
- Too much plastic waste and pollution
- Holding bottlers responsible for waste, not taxpayers
- Submit an Opinion piece to your local paper. Check submission requirements, like the word count (~700 words), before submitting. You can find sample Opinion pieces in the materials section of this toolkit.
- An Opinion piece gives you the chance to make a persuasive argument for your campaign’s position. It’s largely opinion-based, but should be supplemented with facts and figures about the Bottle Bill.
- Find an interesting angle with which to approach the campaign. Editors generally look for immediacy, name recognition, or a creative take on the topic.
- Respond to something happening in your community concerning the Bottle Bill (e.g. recent litter cleanup, city/town decision or announcement)
- Explore a new zero waste angle (e.g. deep dive into litter)
- Use your creativity to come up with new angles
- Follow up frequently with the editor after you’ve submitted your Op-Ed. Ensure they have received it, confirm if and when they plan to print it, and offer to adjust it to their specifications if need be.
4. Share posts on social media – like Twitter, Instagram, and/or Facebook – to raise visibility.
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- Build visibility for the bill by posting about your thoughts and experiences with anything from plastic waste to recycling, or any other part of the Bottle Bill that impacts you.
- Include pictures of beverage container litter in your posts to get more engagement on your posts.
- Tag your elected officials or endorsing groups in posts about the Better Bottle Bill.
Use the hashtags #BetterBottleBill and #zerowaste when posting about the bill.
Learn more from these sources/references:
MASSPIRG Bottle Bill Activist Toolkit
State Beverage Container Deposit Laws
Doughnut Economics Action Lab. 2020. The Amsterdam City Doughnut: A Tool for Transformative Action, TheAmsterdamCityDoughnut.pdf