More details trickled out Monday about a proposal to add a 5-cent, statewide deposit to beverage containers, but county and city recycling managers in Maryland say they remain concerned that the plan could complicate –– and cost –– the recycling programs they operate.
The legislation, which is still being developed but would offer 5-cent refunds for each glass, aluminium and plastic beverage container, would cut into curbside collection once the program is established, said Shaila Aery, a lobbyist who is working for Owens-Illinois to pass the bill in Maryland.
Under the latest draft of the bill, to be sponsored by Del. Maggie L. McIntosh (D-Dist. 43) of Baltimore, counties and cities would be required to establish redemption centers that they could run themselves or license to private or nonprofit operators, Aery said.
Under the draft, if consumers put their beverage containers in county or city recycling bins rather than redeeming them, the jurisdiction could receive the deposit.
Redemption centers where people would return containers for deposits would get a handling fee, paid by the state from deposits that were not claimed.
If the county operates the redemption center, it not only would get paid for the materials but would receive a 2-cent handling fee per bottle or can for at least the first three years, under the draft bill. Redemption centers run by private operators would get a 1.5-cent handling fee.
The draft calls for the state to review the program to see if local governments’ costs are being covered and to reduce the handling fee to 1.5 cents if that is sufficient to cover their costs, Aery said.
Read the full article online at The Gazette.
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