Annapolis - The price of a can of soda or bottle of beer in Maryland could go up 5 cents under a proposed bill that would allow residents to turn in bottles at local redemption centers and get their money back.


The bill, proposed by Del. Peter Hammen, D-Baltimore City, who chairs the House Health and Government Operations Committee, would add Maryland to a list of at least a dozen states, including Massachusetts and Michigan, that allow bottle and can redemption.

“We’re trying to address the problem with littering, and bottles are a big part of it,” said Hammen, whose district includes the Inner Harbor section of Baltimore City, where man-made flotsam is a common sight. “Everything that ends up in a storm drain in the city eventually ends up in my district.”

The bill aims to deter littering by giving people an incentive to hang onto their beverage containers for later recycling, Hammen said. Other states with bottle redemption programs have reported recycling rates of up to 70 percent or 80 percent, he said.

Under the bill, counties would be required to establish and regulate the redemption centers, and the collected cans and bottles would be recycled at the county landfill or by a private contractor.

A group of social-work students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, played a role in bringing the bill to the General Assembly this session.

Jake Weissmann, a second-year social-work master’s student, said the idea for a bottle redemption bill came from a community organizing and economic development course he and 15 other students took last semester.

The students researched bottle bills in other states and developed a proposal for Maryland. The class will be lobbying lawmakers and preparing testimony for the bill’s committee hearing, he said.

“Our focus is going to be getting the word out,” he said. “We’re hoping to form some sort of rally on the day the bill goes to committee.”

I am very glad to see the trash issue being addressed. I normally use the Russell St exit and I can tell you it doesn't leave much of a first impression to visitors coming into the city. That particular exit ramp looks like a dump! It's ashame that people do not have more pride in the city. I am sure this bill will not end the problem, but it's a start. Are there not enough trash cans or enough people that care? What are some other ideas to help with this problem?

One of Mayor Dixon's top priorities is trash cleanup in the city. Maybe her agendas can help Del Hammen's bill.

This is the dumbest idea of all time. Can the government stay out of anything? Why do I need to pay 5 cents more a can and then have to take it somewhere to get my money back? I don't litter.

One of Mayor Dixon's top priorities is trash cleanup in the city. Maybe her agendas can help Del Hammen's bill.
i'm all for this bill. the cleaner the city, the better.

This is the dumbest idea of all time. Can the government stay out of anything? Why do I need to pay 5 cents more a can and then have to take it somewhere to get my money back? I don't litter.

You know, the government would stay out of everthing if people would just do their civic duty and clean up after themselves. When people decide not to take accountability for their actions it is expected for the government to clean up their slack. Not only will this bill help clean up the harbor (which is very much needed) it will also protect the trash poured into the bay. Waterfront homes are useless when all that is seen is a trash-filled mess.

The dumbest idea of all time is not proceeding with this years ago.

You guys should just stick a big "L" on your heads.

^that was uncalled for.

This is the dumbest idea of all time. Can the government stay out of anything? Why do I need to pay 5 cents more a can and then have to take it somewhere to get my money back? I don't litter.

This won't cost you one red cent.

It will give the homeless a way to make money by picking up discarded cans and bottles.

It will give little kids a way to make money just like I used to when I grew up in Baltimore and we had a deposit law (that was in the 60's).

The end result will be a cleaner city. It won't cost you anything and it will do some good for others. Brand me with an big red L too. I hope it stands for liberal and not lesbian.

To see the problem first hand, I suggest you walk to where the Jones Falls empties into the harbor by the Marriott. The number of cans and bottles that wash down the watershed is shameful. BTW, I don't litter either. I walk around downtown picking up other people's trash and people look at me like I'm a nut.

Which reminds me. I think the city should pass a law requiring all free newspapers to be stapled in the spine. I'm so sick and tired of the homeless empting the Examiner and City Paper boxes to sleep on the papers, and then leaving them on the benches to blow all over the place. Two staples would solve this problem. I say staple or charge!

This is the dumbest idea of all time. Can the government stay out of anything? Why do I need to pay 5 cents more a can and then have to take it somewhere to get my money back? I don't litter.

You get the deposit back when you turn in the bottle or can.

Its becoming quite common

From wikipedia:

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:

* California (5 cents; 10 cents for bottles 24 fl oz or greater), implemented 2007
* Connecticut (5 cents), 1980
* Delaware (5 cents), 1982
* Hawaii (5 cents), 2005
* Iowa (5 cents), 1979 (also applies to wine bottles)
* Maine (5 cents), 1978
* Massachusetts (5 cents), 1983
* Michigan (10 cents), 1978 (beer bottles were 5 cents until the 1980's)
* New York (5 cents), 1982
* Oregon (5 cents), 1972
* Vermont (5 cents), 1973

California and Maine's deposit laws are notable for including practically all packaged beverage containers, as opposed to laws such as New York's, which only cover containers used for carbonated beverages. These wider laws include bottled water and fruit drink containers. The difference is somewhat perplexing to some people, espcially considering that many fruit drinks and iced teas use the exact same type of 12-oz aluminum cans that soda and beer manufacturers use for their product.

I can personally attest to its effect in Maine. There is simply less of this trash around.

Which reminds me. I think the city should pass a law requiring all free newspapers to be stapled in the spine. I'm so sick and tired of the homeless empting the Examiner and City Paper boxes to sleep on the papers, and then leaving them on the benches to blow all over the place. Two staples would solve this problem. I say staple or charge!

Thats an interesting idea.

But it does cost me. It costs me 5 cents per can. I then have to actually take time out of my day, round all of these cans up and drag them somewhere, which probably in the end loses me money because the number of cans I take back won't cover the gas money spent getting to the place.

^Then walk or bike to the nearest processing center. This really isnt that big a deal. You arent really affect and the environment is taken care of.

A tax might help some litter issues but I don't think it would effect the harbor very much. The problem there is that IH picks up everything that comes down the Jones Falls and all downtown storm water drains. In past centuries that meant dead horses and pigs (hooves up) but now it mainly means tree limbs, leaves, soda bottles and cups, tire and brake dust, eroded soil and auto drippings. Taken together, those make a nasty stew. Since the bottles and cups have to make it to a storm drain first, they probably won't get picked up by scavengers hoping to make a few bucks (they will prefer the easier pickings of trash bins) and the people who discard them in drains won't be saving them to take them to a recycling center.

^Same on Gwynns Falls.

The City does have some trash collectors, but I think they neglected to fund the O&M of them!:bash:

Nate

I remember reading an article a while back (can't remember where, probably The Sun) about trash filters the city has on the streams. The article mentioned that the nets that picked out trash were often torn or otherwise damaged, so maybe revenues could go to something like that, which could have a bigger effect on the harbor itself. Though I'm more concerned with how the city looks than how the harbor does.

I remember reading an article a while back (can't remember where, probably The Sun) about trash filters the city has on the streams. The article mentioned that the nets that picked out trash were often torn or otherwise damaged, so maybe revenues could go to something like that, which could have a bigger effect on the harbor itself. Though I'm more concerned with how the city looks than how the harbor does.

They have some sort of filter at the end of the Jones Falls, along with gadgets that pump air into the water in order to speed fermentation of nutrients. Considering the state of the harbor water, it's scary to think that it needs to be protected from the Jones Falls.

I am very glad to see the trash issue being addressed. I normally use the Russell St exit and I can tell you it doesn't leave much of a first impression to visitors coming into the city. That particular exit ramp looks like a dump! It's ashame that people do not have more pride in the city. I am sure this bill will not end the problem, but it's a start. Are there not enough trash cans or enough people that care? What are some other ideas to help with this problem?


One of my ideas is to increase fines for businesses that are found to be dumping. On Some corners stores just toss everything in to the alley where it blows everwhere! We need to offer rewards to citizens for catching dumpers.

The recycling campaign needs to be explained better. Most people are clueless. At the same time when recycling is put out it needs to be picked up! In Reservoir Hill where I live this currently does not happen.

When elected I will take part in community clean ups every week! I already set up ones for my block and take part in one in Pigtown. You need to set the example starting from the top. It's also a great way for neighbors to meet each other.

I want the City to sell every empty house it owns. This will cut down on dumping/litter and allow us to generate revenue that will enable property taxes to be cut down to Baltimore County levels finally!

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