The ongoing discussion about whether New Jersey should adopt a bottle deposit system to enhance recycling efforts gained renewed attention during a recent hearing on plastic pollution in the state’s Legislature.
Senator Bob Smith, chair of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee, reignited the debate, pointing out that states with existing bottle deposit programs often boast significantly higher recycling rates compared to New Jersey.
Clean Water Action, advocating for environmental initiatives, has been vocal in its support for implementing a deposit return system in New Jersey. In 2023, the group proposed a 10-cent return on most plastic, aluminum, and glass beverage containers, citing the success of similar programs in other states.
However, the proposal faces opposition from groups like the Association of New Jersey Recyclers. They express concerns that a bottle deposit system could disrupt existing recycling practices and potentially endanger the state’s recycling infrastructure. Gary Sondermeyer, representing the Association, warned that such a system might deter individuals from properly disposing of recyclable items, leading to a decline in recycling rates.
Sondermeyer emphasized that bottles and cans contribute significantly to the revenue of recycling centers, suggesting that a bottle deposit system could undermine the financial viability of these facilities.
Despite the potential economic and environmental implications, Clean Water Action argues that implementing a bottle deposit system could create job opportunities in the long term, albeit at the expense of some initial losses.
As of now, no specific legislation proposing a bottle deposit system has been introduced in the New Jersey Legislature, leaving the fate of recycling initiatives in the state uncertain.
