On January 1, Connecticut’s “Bottle Bill” doubled its deposit to 10 cents.
Sustainable Westport says: “The bottle bill aims to incentivize recycling and proper disposal of beverage containers by attributing a cash value to each container, making it more likely that the containers will be recycled.
“States with bottle bills (we are one of only 10 in the US) have much higher recycling rates for containers than non-bottle bill states.
“The redemption process — separate from curbside recycling — results in less contamination, contributing to higher-quality recycled materials, particularly for plastics.
“Eligible containers include most metal, glass, and plastic beverage containers within specific size ranges for carbonated and non-carbonated drinks. The program covers various beverages, but excludes certain items like paper cartons, pouches, milk, wine and liquor.
“Consumers can redeem containers at stores selling the deposited beverages, including those equipped with self-service reverse vending machines (RVMs). Two near locations to redeem bottles and cans are Stop & Shop and Stew Leonard’s.
“Connecticut’s Bottle Bill laws contribute to the creation of a circular economy by ensuring that valuable resources within these containers are efficiently recycled and reused. This conserves raw materials, and reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing new containers from scratch.
“Beyond its environmental benefits, this legislation fosters a sense of responsibility and awareness regarding waste management. For more information about the new bottle bill and to learn about other redemption options, check out our recent blog.
(“06880” is your go-to local blog, for environmental news and notes. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
I’m curious to see if there has been a study of how much fresh, potable water is consumed by rinsing out bottles with deposits. Also curious to hear if that is a necessary step in the recycling process.
Also, use of HOT water to rinse any recyclable, surely must reduce or negate the benefit. And, as your question implies, and the NYT informed us the day before yesterday, potable water sources in the US are, indeed, drying up due to unnecessary use.
Can you say GOLF COURSE, anyone?
I wonder how much the golf course consumes ?
Which one? There are two in town.
Whatever the amount, it’s too much…in rural areas, where water goes back to the water table, lawn and golf course watering is a bit more tolerable…in towns like ours, where sewered properties simply put used water into the L.I. sound, the morality of any lan watering is questionable, I think.
I hear you. But according to my BJHS science teacher Mr. Bludnicki, water evaporates from salt water, estuarial water and fresh water (even man made like Lake Candlewood) so you can rest easy, all water, even (ugh) from sewage treatment plants, ends up back in the ecosystem.
According to my 8th Grade BJHS science teacher Ed Bludnicki, water evaporates naturally and reenters the ecosystem whether from saltwater, brackish water, freshwater or even (ugh) sewage treatment facilities like the one we have in Westport. So you can rest easy. Rinsing plastic, metal and glass containers as a prelude to recycling will make young and old proud from Greta Thunberg to John Kerry.
I have a couple of questions. Do stores have an obligation to take returnables? For example, If I purchase craft beers from a brewery they are not returnable at a local grocer. What happens to the $$ that is not collected and why can a store reject them? This is not true for other items If I purchase a coca-cola from store A I can return it at store B.
The only have an obligation to accept the items if they sell items from that brand. For craft beer, if you are purchasing glass, we recommend you return at the transfer station or bring back to the location you purchased them.
There are risks to this initiative. A concern is that Kramer and Newman will be making weekly trips to Westport in Newman’s purloined mail truck to redeem their “9600 bottles and cans on the truck 9600 bottles and cans….” This will be accretive to Westport’s carbon footprint.
I was thinking along the same path. Much easier trip up to CT versus driving all the way to Michigan to collect that extra 5c per bottle. They’ll probably stop in Greenwich or Stamford rather than hassle further on I-95 up to our town.
Are there any organizations (Boy / Girl Scouts, etc.) that collect bottles and cans? I just put mine in the town recycling bin which is picked up once a week, since I can’t stand shlepping them back to Stop & Shop, Big Y, etc. They get recycled, but I can’t help thinking that that “lost money” could be put to good use.
How can Westport call itself a green community or have a group called sustainable Westport when the town seems so quick to destroy its community gardens and nature reserve?
There is a return center in Bridgeport that is fast and efficient. 1100 Post Rd.. We save about a 50 gal. size bags worth, drive there and pick someone going in to donate them to, who depend on those returns for daily expenses.
This is a great chore for kids in the house- mine have done it for years! Every few weeks, they help load them in the car & we go to Stop & Shop. And we tacked on financial learning & incentives- they could keep half the money & put the rest in saving or all of it in savings, we would match what they saved at the end of the year. AND it’s good for the environment, which thankfully, most kids care a lot about! They just put newer machines in at S&S too, so that is nice. Bet a Girl Scout or Boy Scout troop would love to help- great idea!