PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island lawmakers heard two hours of testimony about a proposed “bottle bill” Wednesday night that, if passed, would impose a 10-cent deposit on all recyclable beverage containers.
The Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture listened to dozens of supporters and opponents who expressed their opinions about the legislation, which has stirred controversy on both sides of the aisle.
Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee, D-Narragansett, introduced the bottle bill in early April to incentivize recycling and address what she called a broken system.
Hagan McEntee said Rhode Island’s “status quo is not working,” adding that the new policy, if implemented, would help clean up the state, protect the environment and save “significant taxpayer dollars.”
Under the proposal, consumers would pay a 10-cent deposit on each bottled or canned beverage, which could be refunded when the empty container is returned to a designated redemption center.
McEntee said the bill would also shift the cost of recycling from municipalities to manufacturers, encouraging them to design more sustainable packaging.
A February poll commissioned by Save The Bay showed a majority of Rhode Island voters support the bill. Environmental groups like Clean Water Action Rhode Island believe it is a long-overdue step toward reducing litter and protecting natural resources.
However, a separate survey conducted by an advocacy coalition representing food and beverage businesses found quite the opposite, showing that 60% of those polled oppose the legislation.
The bill has drawn significant opposition from a coalition of businesses, distributors, and workers who’ve organized under the banner “Stop The Rhode Island Bottle Tax.”