The beverage industry is pushing hard to repeal Vermont’s Bottle Bill, which provides for the redemption of soda, beer, liquor, coolers and malt bottles. That may be in their interest, but it’s certainly not in ours.
In my town (Lincoln), bottle redemption is used to raise funds for several groups: the Historical Society, Scouts, youth groups and others. Placing a value on these containers helps to make sure they’re collected and not just left on the roadsides to rot. In fact, I would like to see the bill expanded. For example, Coca Cola soda bottles are redeemable, but Coca Cola also owns Dasani (water), Odwalla (juice drinks) and HonesTea (iced teas). It would be really terrific if these containers were also redeemable, especially bottled water.
We pride ourselves on being a green state. The progress we’ve made is very clear when I drive to New Hampshire, which has no bottle law. New Hampshire roadsides are full of litter, especially plastic bottles. I don’t want Vermont to go back to that. I ask our legislators — especially Sen. Clair Ayer — to please not let that happen. We count on you, and we care about this!
Mary Lu Harding
Lincoln