* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Henry
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Request for State Legislation - State Container Deposit Law
For the purpose of respectfully requesting the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the 2011 Session of the Maryland General Assembly to sponsor and secure the adoption of legislation that would establish a State Container Deposit Law.
body
Recitals
WHEREAS, Currently, 11 states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Vermont) have a container deposit law, with deposits ranging from five to ten cents a container. When a distributor distributes containers to a retailer, a deposit is paid by the retailer to the distributor. Then, when a consumer purchases a container from a retailer, a deposit is paid to the retailer. When the consumer returns the container to a designated drop-off point, they receive their deposit back, and when retailers return the used containers to the distributors for recycling, they also receive their deposit back. The costs of the program are generally covered by the unclaimed deposits.
WHEREAS, States with container deposit laws have seen their recovery and recycling rates rise to 65%-96%, a remarkable rise at a point where both overall recycling rates and container recycling rates are falling. According to the Aluminum Association, states without deposit programs have a recycling rate around 38%, considerably lower than states with such programs.
WHEREAS, Additionally, programs like these serve to eliminate beverage container litter. According to the Container Recycling Institute, 40-60% of litter is comprised of beverage waste (presumably owing to so many of these beverages being consumed on the go). In states with a container deposit law, beverage container litter was reduced by 69-83%, while overall litter was reduced by 30-47%.
WHEREAS, Increased recycling of containers also means that there will be fewer carbon emissions and less energy used, since fewer new materials have to be used.
WHEREAS, Furthermore, this would move the costs of un-recycled containers to the consumers and the companies, not the taxpayers in general. Right now, much of the costs attributed to the use of beverage containers (namely through litter control) is borne by the taxpayers, not by those who contribute to the problem. In other states, unclaimed deposits have been used to fund programs that aid the environment and assist with litter control.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Honorable Chair and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the 2011 Session of the Maryland General Assembly are urged to introduce legislation to establish a container deposit law.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Honorable Chair and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the 2011 Maryland, General Assembly, the Governor, the Mayor, the Mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Relations, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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