Connecticut Recyclers Coalition

Environment Committee
Testimony in Favor of Raised Bill #871, AN ACT CONCERNING THE EXPANSION OF THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER REDEMPTION PROVISIONS.

Senator Stillman, Representative Roy and Members of the Environment Committee,

Thank you for this opportunity to voice support for Raised Bill 871. I am C.J. May, Recycling Coordinator at Yale University. Today I offer written testimony as president of the Connecticut Recyclers Coalition, a non-profit organization of recyclers and solid waste professionals.

The Connecticut Recyclers Coalition supports our state’s current “Bottle Bill” as well as Raised Bill 871 which would expand the current program to include plastic water bottles. 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, more importantly, away from home. Water bottle consumption is the single biggest growth area in beverages, doubling in the last 10 years. Most of this growth has been in away-from-home consumption. This has resulted in increased litter and waste disposal costs. Putting a nickel deposit on these bottles will do much to improve this situation.

Raised Bill 871 will also contribute substantially to the health of our nation’s manufacturers. Makers of carpet and other plastic-based products are literally starving for recycled feedstock such as PET water bottles. Not enough is being collected to satisfy both domestic and overseas industries. As such, foreign nations buy up all the material leaving our own factories on the point of shutting down. Mohawk carpet is one such industry.

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 871.

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 Container Recycling Institute’s Bottle Bill Resource Guide at: www.bottlebill.org.