Tennessee Bottle Bill
Encyclopedia
The Tennessee Bottle Bill is container-deposit legislation that is proposed. The legislation, if successful, would require a five-cent deposit on beverage containers. Currently the recycling rate in Tennessee
is 10 percent and the bottle bill is projected to increase the rate to 80 percent.
If passed, Tennessee’s bottle bill will cover aluminum cans, glass bottles and plastic bottles of up to two liters, excluding milk, liquor and wine. This would be similar to the items covered by the other 11 participating states.
The primary contributor to litter in Tennessee is discarded bottles and cans.
During the last three years the three leading container trade groups (Aluminum Association, the Glass Packaging Institute
, and the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers) have changed their position and now support bottle bills because of the success of existing bottle bills.
These state laws vary as to the types of containers for which a deposit is required, but generally include glass, metal, and plastic beverage containers.
, September 17, 2009: By a decisive vote of 10 to 1 (2 commissioners absent), the Shelby County Commission overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution supporting Tennessee's container-deposit bill. Thanks to Commissioner Steve Mulroy for sponsoring the resolution, and to the many people who presented at, attended, donated to or otherwise assisted with "Return to Returnables," a public forum on the legislation held on September 17, 2009 at the Agricenter International.
The Shelby County action brings to ten the number of county commissions that have so far voted on (and all endorsed) a resolution on the bill.
The Rutherford County Commission’s Public Works Committee discussed the issue on January 12, 2010 without voting to recommend a resolution for the full 21-member commission to consider.
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
is 10 percent and the bottle bill is projected to increase the rate to 80 percent.
If passed, Tennessee’s bottle bill will cover aluminum cans, glass bottles and plastic bottles of up to two liters, excluding milk, liquor and wine. This would be similar to the items covered by the other 11 participating states.
The primary contributor to litter in Tennessee is discarded bottles and cans.
During the last three years the three leading container trade groups (Aluminum Association, the Glass Packaging Institute
Glass Packaging Institute
The Glass Packaging Institute is a trade association for the U.S. glass container industry. Headquartered in Washington, DC, GPI lobbies on behalf of its members, while providing them with technical, promotional and public relations support...
, and the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers) have changed their position and now support bottle bills because of the success of existing bottle bills.
US states with Container-deposit legislation
According to 2004 U.S. Census Bureau statistics, approximately 30% of the U.S. population currently reside in states or territories with existing container deposit laws.These state laws vary as to the types of containers for which a deposit is required, but generally include glass, metal, and plastic beverage containers.
Developments
MemphisMemphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, September 17, 2009: By a decisive vote of 10 to 1 (2 commissioners absent), the Shelby County Commission overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution supporting Tennessee's container-deposit bill. Thanks to Commissioner Steve Mulroy for sponsoring the resolution, and to the many people who presented at, attended, donated to or otherwise assisted with "Return to Returnables," a public forum on the legislation held on September 17, 2009 at the Agricenter International.
The Shelby County action brings to ten the number of county commissions that have so far voted on (and all endorsed) a resolution on the bill.
The Rutherford County Commission’s Public Works Committee discussed the issue on January 12, 2010 without voting to recommend a resolution for the full 21-member commission to consider.
Potential issues
One aspect of beverage recycling laws that has come into question is the illegal redemption from outside states. Michigan, which offers 10 cents for every can and bottle recycled, has faced issues of smuggling from neighboring states like Ohio, where consumers didn’t pay the deposit when purchased and are collecting money for recycling. None of Tennessee’s neighbor states currently have beverage deposit laws.See also
- Container-deposit legislation in the United States
- Recycling in the United StatesRecycling in the United StatesThis article examines recycling in the United States. Since there is no national law that mandates recycling, state and local governments often introduce recycling requirements. A number of U.S...