Manufacturers and distributors earn profits from products that produce trash. Municipalities pay the greatly increasing disposal fees. House Bill 1636 would change that, with a container deposit system. A number of states have such a system, actually designed and run by manufacturers and distributors through a producer responsibility organization. Customers pay a 10 or 15 cent deposit when purchasing a bottled or canned beverage, which is fully returned to the customer upon returning “empties” to the store or any redemption center. Hannaford in Maine participates in such a system. Let’s bring it to New Hampshire!

Benefits? Municipalities are spared handling and transportation costs. Containers tossed into regular trash cost our communities a tipping fee, considerable for heavy glass bottles. Deposit containers remain in good condition, unlike those often broken or contaminated when tossed into municipal recycling bins. Uncontaminated, unbroken containers are truly recycled, the materials used over at a fraction of the expense of extracting materials to manufacture new containers. Return rates can reach 91%, as consumers seek return of their deposit. For beverage containers not on deposit the U.S. recycling rate is stagnant at 24%, meaning more bottles end up as litter, useful aluminum and glass is tossed out. There is no cost for customers who return their bottles. States with these systems find it’s paid for by the customers who don’t collect their deposits. Contact your NH representative and urge support for HB 1636, which would open the discussion on this important avenue for our communities to save money.

Susan Richman

Durham