Vermont’s Bottle Bill is our state’s most successful recycling program. Thanks to the Bottle Bill, we recycle 85% of covered beverage containers, while states without Bottle Bills recycle, on average, only 24%. By updating the Bottle Bill we can keep millions more containers out of landfills and off of roadsides.
Senate Votes 22-7 to Kill Expanded Bottle Bill
April 20, 2012
Statement of VPIRG Executive Director Paul Burns on Senate’s 22-7 Vote to Kill Expanded Bottle Bill
Friday, April 20, 2012 — Just as people around Vermont and across the country are marking the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day, Vermont state senators have voted to kill a proposal to expand Vermont’s most successful recycling law — the Bottle Bill.
As a result of the Senate’s 22-7 vote today, nearly one hundred million cans and bottles will end up in landfills or as roadside litter over the course of the next year when they could otherwise have been recycled under an expanded Bottle Bill recycling program.…
Senate Committee gives Thumbs Up to a Bigger, Better Bottle Bill
April 16, 2012
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy passed an amendment to expand the Bottle Bill as part of the broader solid waste and mandatory recycling bill (H. 485) on Friday morning. Offered by Senator Joe Benning (R- Caledonia), the amendment adds beverages such as water bottles, juices, and sports drinks to the bottle redemption program.
The amendment passed on a 3-2 vote: voting in favor were Senators Benning, McCormack and MacDonald, opposed were Senators Brock and Lyons.…
40th Anniversary of the Bottle Bill
April 7, 2012
Forty years ago this week, on April 7, 1972, Vermont legislators passed the Bottle Bill – innovative legislation to add a redeemable deposit on soda and beer bottles and cans. Vermont was only the second state in the nation, after Oregon, to enact a bottle redemption program. The idea was originally conceived as a way to fight litter, a problem marring Vermont’s scenic roadsides, parks, and other areas. The law gave people a monetary incentive to collect and return their bottles and cans, rather than tossing them out their car windows or in the garbage can.…
Bigger Better Bottle Bill Still Alive in Legislature
March 20, 2012
Last week marked “crossover,” where most bills need to be passed out of committee to remain alive for this legislative session. VPIRG members made phone calls and sent hundreds of emails to their Senators urging the Senate Natural Resource & Energy committee to pass the expanded Bottle Bill out of committee by the Friday, March 16 crossover deadline.
Study Finds Bigger Better Bottle Bill is Win-Win
February 15, 2012
Expanding Vermont’s Bottle Bill to certain non-carbonated beverage containers would be a win-win for our state’s environment and economy, according to a new study released today by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG). Among the specific findings in Understanding the Impacts of Expanding Vermont’s Beverage Deposit Return Program: an additional 96.7 million bottles and cans would be recycled each year in Vermont.
Bills to Watch in 2012 – A Bigger, Better Bottle Bill
January 10, 2012
Strengthening the Bottle Bill will take two main forms: updating it so that you’ll be able to redeem water bottles and other non-carbonated beverage containers (including hard cider and wine bottles), and closing the “unclaimed nickel” loophole. That way, the deposits from unredeemed containers will go back to the State to be reinvested in recycling programs.
Expansion of Bottle Bill would create jobs
December 16, 2011
A recent study found that expansion of Vermont’s bottle bill to include water bottles and other non-carbonated beverages could lead to an increase of jobs in the state, according to a new study by the Container Recycling Institute (CRI) called, “Returning to Work: Understanding the Domestic Jobs Impacts from Different Methods of Recycling Beverage Containers.”
130,000 cans and bottles redeemed for farm relief
December 1, 2011
VPIRG celebrated the end of a two-month-long bottle drive to raise funds for farms damaged by Tropical Storm Irene. In total, the statewide Redeem to Rebuild drive raised over $8,000 through the collection of redeemed containers as well as through non-profit, business, and individual donations.
Oregon’s Gov. signs updated Bottle Bill into law
June 17, 2011
Two weeks ago, Oregon’s governor signed an updated Bottle Bill into law. Oregon’s new bottle bill will now include bottled water, energy drinks, and other beverage containers commonly found on store shelves.
VPR’s Vermont Edition featuring the future of Vermont’s Bottle Bill
March 11, 2011
Congratulations to Charity Carbine for her stellar interview on VPR’s Vermont Edition! And thanks to all who called and wrote in supporting the Bottle Bill. It’s clear where Vermonters stand on this issue. And the awful performance by the beverage industry’s lobbyist makes clear they’re just out to repeal our recycling law.