The bottle bill, substitute SB 1037: An Act Concerning Solid Waste Management is on the Senate Calendar, #0322, file #562. It may be voted on as soon as Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Thank you to the Senators and Representatives who have co-sponsored this bill thus far. We need more cosponsors.
Action on the BOTTLE BILL is needed now. Connecticut can do better than our embarrassing 49% redemption rate, the lowest in the world!
SENATORS NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU.
The opposition is trying to gut the bill by
- Trying to change the 3.5 cent handling fee to 2.5 cents. At 2.5 cents we cannot count on keeping the existing redemption centers open, let alone seeing additional redemption centers open. Additional redemption centers offer jobs, convenient options for consumers, and help increase recycling/redemption rates.
- Trying to keep the deposit at 5 cents. Five cents is no longer enough of an incentive to redeem bottles and cans. 10 cents works in other Bottle Bill State who have redemption rates of 80-90%.
- Trying to stop the expansion. Expanding the bill means more materials are recycled and less trash and litter.
We need all three major provisions to meet the goals of the proposed legislation:
- the 3.5-cent handling fee,
- a 10-cent deposit, and
- expansion to include other beverage containers (nips are included in the legislation, wine and other spirits are not).
ACTION
Here are two easy steps to let your voice be heard:
Step 1:
Before May 4, contact your Senator and Representatives (email or call) and ask them to support SB 1037 and cosponsor it. As of April 29, 2021, 24 Representatives and Four Senators (Kasser, Kushner, Haskell, Slap) have cosponsored the bill. It is especially important to get additional Senators to cosponsor since it is a Senate Bill.
View the most recent cosponsor list on the Official Bill Page:
Step 2:
Tell us what they said! Please report all legislator responses:
Contact Kathy Golas, kcgolas [at] aol.com for additional information.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILL:
- Raises the handling fee on covered containers to 3.5 cents. (Effective July of 2021)
- Increases the deposit on covered containers from 5 to 10 cents. (Effective January 2022)
- Expands the program to cover non-carbonated beverages including juices, teas, sports drinks, kombucha, hard cider and liquor nips. (Effective July 2022)
- Allows beverage distributor to keep 18% of the unclaimed deposits for the 1st two fiscal years and 20% after that, to help offset the cost of the handling fee raise.
- Includes a series of changes to update/modernize the existing statute to reflect current market practice.
Sample message to adapt:
I am [Your Name] from [Town or Zip Code] and I write in support of SB 1037 which would update the Bottle Bill to help make recycling work, reduce litter, and lower costs to municipalities. Will you please vote "yes" on SB 1037 and consider becoming a cosponsor.
________________________________
For more information:
Want to stay in the loop on all LWVCT Action Alerts? Join the WVCT OutreachCircle - it allows us to keep you updated in real time and share all the ways you can get involved in your spare time.
