[GreenYes Archives] -
[Thread Index] -
[Date Index]
[Date Prev] - [Date Next] - [Thread Prev] - [Thread Next]
Re: [greenyes] Environmental, Recycling Leaders Support Senator Jeffords' Bil...
- Subject: Re: [greenyes] Environmental, Recycling Leaders Support Senator Jeffords' Bil...
- From: lkingeco2@no.address
- Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 11:28:13 EST
GreenYes Listserve,
FYI: Please not that Senator Jefford's news release below shows a total of 5
co-sponsors. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) was added after the
environmental groups release was finalized.
Cheers,
Lance King
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2003 ERIK SMULSON OR DIANE DERBY
202-224-5141
JEFFORDS INTRODUCES NATIONAL "BOTTLE BILL" TO
INCREASE RECYCLING
120 BILLION BEVERAGE CONTANERS WASTED EACH YEAR
- SATURDAY IS NATIONAL RECYCLING DAY -
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Jeffords, I-Vt., the ranking member of
the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today introduced the
"National Beverage Container Producer Responsibility Act of 2003", which requires
an 80 percent recycling rate and implements a 10-cent refundable deposit for
beverage containers . A long-time proponent of national beverage container
deposit legislation, Jeffords compared his commitment to the bottle bill to
being a Red Sox fan, saying "this is our year."
"Beverage container recycling is one of the simplest ways to see a dramatic
improvement in our environment," said Jeffords. "My bill strikes a balance
between the wishes of industry, the authority of individual states, and the needs
of a healthy environment." He stated that refundable deposit laws have
proven dramatically more effective than voluntary efforts, noting that the ten
states that have implemented deposit laws recycle more containers than all of the
other 40 states combined.
According to estimates, Americans waste about 120 billion beverage containers
each year by not recycling them. Jeffords' "bottle bill" would require the
beverage industry to implement a program to meet the performance standard, and
would exempt states from participating in the national program if their
individual program is consistent with the legislation. The bill would save 300
million barrels of oil over the next decade, eliminate 4 million tons of
greenhouse gas emissions annually and decrease road side litter by up to 84 percent.
The introduction of the "bottle bill" coincides with America Recycles Day,
which is Saturday, November 15, and which sponsors activities across the U.S.
and across Vermont to raise public awareness of the benefits of increased
recycling.
Jeffords was joined with original cosponsors Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., John
Kerry, D-Mass., Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., and Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, in
introducing this legislation.
Jeffords' legislation has been endorsed by three dozen environmental groups,
recycling organizations and businesses groups.
- 30 -
[GreenYes Archives] -
[Date Index] -
[Thread Index]
[Date Prev] - [Date Next] - [Thread Prev] - [Thread Next]