Don’t let the Senate trash the Bottle Bill (SB 1037).
Last week, the Bottle Bill, SB 1037, was suddenly taken off the list for a vote. The cause - heavy lobbying by Big Beverage to postpone the 10-cent deposit indefinitely. Legislators had already agreed to postpone this provision until January 1, 2023.
Senators must hear from their constituents NOW - Let’s get at least 10 calls and emails to each Senator by 1:00 PM on Wednesday June 2nd.
ACTION: CALL your Senator TODAY and URGE her/him to VOTE YES on Amendment LCO # 9468 & SB 1037 and NO on any amendments that cater to the beverage industry. If you are unable to reach your Senator or her/his aide with a call, please send an email. Feel free to adapt the message templates below.
Senator Cohen and Representative Gresko, Co-Chairs of the Environment Committee, negotiated changes in good faith to SB 1037 in Amendment LCO # 9468. This amendment includes the three essential key provisions of the bill with extended effective days as follows:
- Raises the handling fee to 2.5 cents for beer and to 3.5 cents for other covered beverages. (Effective October 1, 2021)
- Increases the deposit on covered containers from 5 to 10 cents. (Effective January 1, 2023)
- Expands the program to cover non-carbonated beverages including juices, teas, sports drinks, kombucha, and hard cider. (Effective July 1, 2023)
Feel free to adapt the messages below. Adding a reason for your support may be effective, but not necessary. However, unless you have a personal relationship with your Senator, it's the number of contacts that count.
Sample CALL Message:
My name is [YOUR NAME]. I am a constituent from [YOUR TOWN] and I respfully ask you to support a strong bottle bill, SB 1037, by voting “yes” on Amendment LCO #9468. It includes a 10-cent deposit on juices, teas, and sports drinks, in addition to beer, water and carbonated beverages. Please do not support any amendments that cater to the beverage industry. [Add a personal reason for support here, if desired].
Sample EMAIL message:
Dear [Name of Senator]:
I am a constituent and I write in support of SB 1037 and amendment LCO #9468 which would update the Bottle Bill to help make recycling work, reduce litter, and lower costs to municipalities. Please support a strong bottle bill with a 10-cent deposit on juices, teas, sports drinks, in addition to beer, waters and carbonated beverages. Please vote "yes" on SB 1037 as amended (LCO#9468). Please do not support any amendments that cater to the beverage industry.
[Add a personal reason for support here, if desired].
IT'S TIME to improve a system that NEEDS TO WORK MORE effectively TO recycle thousands of tons of waste materials and keep litter off our streets and out of our waterways.
IT'S TIME CT municipalities and taxpayers stop paying to handle EMPTIES FROM the HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS ofbeverage containers sold in CT every year.
IT’S TIME to make it more convenient for consumers to redeem their deposit containers.
Thank you for your continued help on this issue. Please contact kcgolas [at] aol.com, if you have questions.
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For more information:
Don’t let the Senate trash the Bottle Bill (SB 1037) Call Your Senator Support the Amendment 9468 which will improve our current bottle bill
