Toxics and Solid Waste:
Litter Reduction Act of 2007

Our Position: support
Bill Number: S215
Sponsor: Sen. Berger of Franklin
Legislative Session: 2007

A fresh visit to the perennial "bottle bill" legislation, with a new spin: roadside litter reduction. This bill requires a 10 cent deposit on beverage containers and requires redemption centers to accept returned containers and refund the deposit to customers.

Status

Though some are concerned that the bill would affect sales for retailers, states with similar systems have not seen a decline in demand. The bill has been introduced in various forms in many previous sessions. Sen. Berger described the bill is committee as unlike any he’d encountered: a bill that had so much popular support and such strong opposition by special interest groups.

Action Needed

Contact your member of the Senate Commerce Committee throughout the interim!

Contact

Christa Wagner, Director of Government Relations, NC Sierra Club (919) 833-8467

Background

Recent media has focused on water bottle consumption and waste, with at least three editorials in the New York Times this summer, and many editorials in papers across North Carolina (see below). The bill may be revived in the short session.

Citizen Times - Supports AC-T’s position on a ‘bottle bill’

http://carolinamountains.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770731051

News and Observer - Bottled-Up Bill

http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/editorials/story/663473.html

News and Observer - Powerful foes keep lid on bottle bill

http://www.newsobserver.com/print/wednesday/city_state/story/640707.html

News and Observer - Recycling not the issue

http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/letters/story/677264.html

Winston Salem Journal - Bottle-Deposit Bill

http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_ColumnistArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352089126&path=!opinion!editorials!&s=1037645509188