It would take a state law to create a refund program for recycling bottles and cans in North Carolina. And so far, there just hasn’t been enough support, said Paul Crissman, solid waste section chief at the N.C. Division of Waste Management.
A bottle bill, as such legislation is known, has been introduced in both the 2009 and 2007 N.C. General Assembly sessions by N.C. Sen. Doug Berger, a Democrat who represents Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties.
His bill would institute a 10-cent refund for recycling bottles and cans. Each bill was referred to the commerce committee, but no action was taken.
Brice Bratcher, one of Berger’s legislative assistants, said he does not know why the bill did not gain traction because no other lawmakers have made public statements about such a program.
Date posted: August 13, 2010
User-contributed question by:
Susan Bullers
In some states beverage distributors make money on the float of these funds. Plus you never have 100% returns on all beverages what goes out.