There has been an alarming trend recently in recycling rates in the United States. They have been dropping. According to studies done by the Container Recycling Institute, recycling rates for aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and glass bottles have fallen by anywhere between 10 and 20%. This leaves the national beverage container recycling rate at about 40%. Not Good.
However, there is hope. Beverage container recycling rates in states with bottle bills are much higher. Some of the most successful stories include Michigan with a 95% beverage container recycling rate and Oregon with a beverage container reycling rate of 83%. Even some of the less successful stories like California still have rates of 60% or higher.
Many bottle bills have come up in past years but none of them have been passed into law. Urge congress to support a national bottle bill.
Dear Decision Maker,
We the undersigned have found the recent decline in the national beverage container recycling rate to be rather alarming. Instead of trying to recycle more, people are recycling less. Recycling rates for aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and glass bottles have dropped off between ten and twenty percent over the past ten years. This leaves the national beverage container recycling rate at 40 percent. This is very disappointing considering that this rate was over 50 percent just 10 short years ago.
However, there is a way to change this. Beverage container recycling rates in states with bottle bills are much, much higher than the national average. Some of the most successful stories include Michigan with a 95% beverage container recycling rate and Oregon with a rate of 83%, Even states where the bottle bill has been less successful, such as California, have beverage container recycling rates of 60% or greater.
There are many advantages to passing a national bottle bill. One of them is litter reduction. No one wants to go to a park or other public place and see litter thrown around. It is not very attractive. Passing a national bottle bill can help with this situation. Studies have shown that in states with bottle bills, total litter was reduced by 30-50%.
A national bottle bill will also help to create new jobs. In states with bottle bills, the deposit system has created tens of thousands of new jobs. In times when the economy is sagging and with many people being laid off, it is important to support programs and industries that will create new jobs and a national bottle bill is one of those.
There are many more benefits as well including waste reduction and an increase in recycling rates.
The benefits of passing a national bottle bill far out-weight the negatives. Many bottle bills have been proposed in past years but none of them have been passed into law. The time has come to change that. We urge you to support a national bottle bill next time one enters Congress.
Thank you for your time and attention on this very important issue.
