March 8, 2004

Environment Committee
Testimony in Favor of Raised Bill #549, AN ACT CONCERNING THE EXPANSION OF THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER REDEMPTION PROVISIONS.

Senator Williams, Representative Widlitz and Members of the Environment Committee,

Thank you for this opportunity to voice support for Raised Bill 549. I am C.J. May, Recycling Coordinator at Yale University. Today I offer written testimony on behalf of the Connecticut Recyclers Coalition, a non-profit organization of recyclers and solid waste professionals.

The Connecticut Recyclers Coalition supports our state’s “Bottle Bill” as well as Raised Bill 549 which would bring about its expansion. The current system of placing a five-cent deposit on beverage containers serves the best interest of the citizens of Connecticut. It provides a strong incentive for recycling bottles and cans generated at home and away from home. Expanding the Bottle Bill through 549 would further improve recycling rates, reduce litter and provide needed income to individuals and organizations which collect the beverage containers.

The Bottle Bill was originally created to combat littering on roadways and other public areas. It has succeeded in reducing the littering of redeemable beverage containers and has also provided a successful recycling incentive.

Many of Connecticut’s needy citizens and non-profit organizations rely upon the income generated by redeeming beverage containers. Without this source of income needs would go unmet or the responsibility for filling them would be fall be assumed by state and municipal governments.

In addition to re-affirming its commitment to the Bottle Bill by expansion through 549, Connecticut can advance the cause of recycling and its many benefits by taking three further steps: 1) recovering the estimated $20 million in unclaimed nickel deposits, i.e., 2) increasing the deposit charged from a nickel to a dime and 3) further expanding the selection of beverage containers with redemption values to include wine and spirits.

We can provide much needed capital to our troubled state budget by recovering an estimated $20 million in unclaimed bottle and can deposits each year. Even with the benefit of increased recycling due to the nickel deposit, many containers are never returned. In Connecticut unclaimed deposits have remained in the coffers of beverage distributors. In Massachusetts and Michigan, however, unclaimed deposits are used to support government programs. The Connecticut Recyclers Coalition advocates following this wise example. The State could put a mere 25% of the escheats into the currently un-funded DEP Recycling program. The remaining 75%, or $15 million, would go towards general funding.

By increasing the deposit from five cents to 10 cents per container Connecticut will offer added incentive for recycling. This will bring us closer to the state-mandated goal of a 40% recycling rate, give added life to landfills and resource recovery facilities, and provide more income to needy individuals and non-profit organizations.

Raised Bill 549 takes a vital step in adding non-carbonated beverage containers to the list of these with a five cent redemption value. We ask you to consider taking the next step by including beverage containers for wine and spirits as well. The State of Maine runs a successful redemption program which includes all beverage containers. Connecticut would do well to follow the model.

Expanding the bottle bill to include other beverage containers will reduce litter, pollution and curbside collection costs. We applaud this bill and the continued efforts of the Environment Committee to safeguard our state’s environment through means that are economically-sound and administratively prudent.

The Connecticut Recyclers Coalition has a diverse membership of professionals engaged in recycling, solid waste and related activities. As a coalition of experienced managers we ask you to do what is best for Connecticut by expanding the Bottle Bill through 549.

Thank you.

Cyril John May
President
Connecticut Recyclers Coalition
cyril.may@yale.edu

For more information on the benefits of bottle bills please reference the CRC’s Bottle Bill fact sheet or view the Container Recycling Institute’s Bottle Bill Resource Guide at: www.bottlebill.org.