HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 13 - Bottle Deposit LegislationITEM '113
MEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: ROGER NELSON, CITY MANAGER
MEETING DATE: AUGUST 15, 2000
SUBJECT: BOTTLE DEPOSIT LEGISLATION RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION:
City Council to approve a resolution urging the Texas Municipal League to support
changes in State law to create a deposit system for glass and plastic bottles.
BACKGROUN
State law provides for a deposit return on aluminum cans, but not on plastic or glass
bottles. In fiscal year 1999, Texas spent $20,162,000 picking up litter. With a state
population of approximately 20 million and the average consumption of 620 beverages
in no -return containers per person each year, this is a problem that translates into 12.4
billion containers with decomposition life cycles of over 400 years. In states where
similar legislation has passed and these glass and plastic bottles have been given a
refund value, recycling rates increased and litter volume was reduced.
The deposit bill legislation would require users to pay a deposit on containers of
beverages such as beer, soft drinks, juices, iced tea, sports drinks and bottled water, but
this would create a needed value for these items to assure that they will be picked up or
no longer discarded on our cities' rights-of-way.
In states where similar legislation has been implemented (population of approximately
77 million), 1.6 million tons of beverage containers were recycled compared to the
remaining 40 states (population of approximately 186 million) which recycled only 1.3
million tons of beverage containers in one year.
City Manager recommends approval.
Icb
August 1, 2000 (11:25AM)
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS URGING THE
TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE TO SUPPORT
CHANGES IN STATE LAW TO CREATE A DEPOSIT
SYSTEM FOR GLASS AND PLASTIC BOTTLES;
AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, discarded glass and plastic bottles in vacant lots and along
city rights-of-way cause cities to expend additional revenue to remove the litter;
and
WHEREAS, in addition to the litter created by discarded glass and plastic
bottles, cities with a population of 100,000 or more that are required to have a
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permit issued by the EPA must monitor
and reduce floatables in storm water; and
WHEREAS, cities conduct clean-ups at different times of the year, but the
problem of glass and plastic bottles persists, littering vacant lots and city rights-
of-way and interfering with a city's storm water system; and
WHEREAS, ten states have implemented a glass and plastic bottle
deposit system and have substantially reduced littering.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS:
Section 1. That all matters stated in the preamble are true and correct
and are incorporated herein as if stated in their entirety.
Section 2. That the City of Grapevine urges the Texas Municipal League
to support the establishment of a state-wide deposit system for glass and plastic
bottles.
Section 3. That the City Secretary forward certified copies of this
resolution to all State legislators representing the City of Grapevine and to the
Texas Municipal League.
Section 3. That this resolution shall become effective from and after the
date of its passage.
ATTEST:
rOP,TWOP,TH
•--_.�.�.-mss
BECKY L. I-IASKIY
C:Fy COUNCIL, DISTRICT 4
lune 29. 2000
C. Shane Wilbanks
P.O. Bos 95104
f=r;lnrvirir, TY '7(.n49-9 7r i
Dear Council Member Wilbanks:
'Tile state of Texas needs *your support for a bottle bill. We often see people picking up
aluminum cans, NF hick have value. alont- the right of «ays in our : ities, but the "lass and
plastic bottles are overlooked because they have no value. In fiscal year 1999. Texas
spent S20.162,000 picking up litter. With a state I)opulation of approxiniately 20 million
and the average consumption of 620 beverages in no -return containers per person each
year, this is a problem that translates into 12.4 billion containers v.itli decomposition life
cscles of over 400 years. In states where such bei^rage containers «ere given a refund
NAtic, recyciing rates increased draniaticall), and litter volume nits reduced.
A deposit slslen: i'olleelitl%%ted on Mass 'Ind rdacti^ containuc.s N�ould create the
i:eelled i alae 1'ur ttlese itellis to a.ss.lre that they acid be )ticked til? or no fou- discarded
oil out- cities ritgh't of Nta'..,. Deposit b!If ICi;klalion. AII;iC{i at tl:^,ye bet'erage containers
that have long decay and decomposition life cscles. Nvoilld require a deposit oil glass and
plastic beverage containers such :is beer (including the 32 aa1 40 oz bottles), soft drinks,
and '•neNN aged" drinks (such as joii•"'s, iced t( -a, sports drinks, and bottled Nsaters).
Enclosed is the Fort North City Council's resolution, which icas adopted by Texas
Municipal League at its annual conference. supporting clianue-,s in state law to create a
"P.0 nl:tctir hr;ifle.- ' ctriniol4 t:r2c. t'iiil to pass - similar
resolution ill vour city. Please forts and your citN's resolution on to N our state legislator
and share tiour resolution iN ith nte. Be air; are of the legislatise lilac i'raltle..�et and talk
«ith nota• state legislators now. so that your city's support of deposit le-islation will be
recd -sized in thu upcoming legislative session. Wit" the support of other "Texas cities,
sse cin let out- state legislators kno%N' that Ns e lire seriaus about abating the litter problem
in Texas caused bv glass and plastic bottles. I think cou it, i(],-ance for .-our action and
look forltiard to Your partieipatiou ill ;his v,ortllscause
tiillc:.�rels,
Bt,cl,, 1-Iaskin
Cit\ of Fort Worth- Counc;! Oistri,:i four tteprerent}ltiN't'
elaail: Bllaskillio llash.net
oft -ice phone: 817-871-880
fax: 817-871-6157
Printed on reccclyd
Resdution
• .'
URGING THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE TO SUPPORT CHANGES IN
STATE LAW TO CREATE A DEPOSIT SYSTEM FOR GLASS AND PLASTIC
BOTTLES
WHEREAS, discarded glass and plastic bottles in vacant lots and along city
rights of way causes cities to expend additional revenue to remove the litter; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the litter created by discarded glass and plastic bottles,
cities with a population of 100,000 or more that are required to have a National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination Permit issued by the EPA must monitor and reduce floatables to
storm water; and
WHEREAS, cities conduct clean-ups at different times of the year, but the
problem of glass and plastic bottles persists, littering vacant lots and city rights of way
and interfering with a city's storm water system.
WHEREAS, Iowa and Maine have implemented a glass and plastic bottle deposit
system and have reduced littering.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF FORT WORTH,
That the City of Fort Worth urges the Texas Municipal League to support the
establishment of a state wide deposit system for glass and plastic bottles.
Adopted this 28th day of September, 1999.
UNY COUNCIL
SSP 28 1999
Zetayof�l`.,
City of Fort we:'! Te
0 Litter costs money, destroys property values, causes destruction and injury.
Stepped up enforcement is not the answer- litter abatement cannot be a priority of
law enforcement.
There is a need to create incentives for voluntary return of used bottles (helps to
solve the 32140 oz beer litter problem as well as other glass and plastic bottle litter).
Deposit legislation is working in other states.
Bottle Deposit 'g ., i Works
In Oregon, litter from beverage containers has dropped by 83% - from 40% of
roadside litter to only 4% within 15 years.
In the last 25 years, Oregon return rates for beverage containers have exceeded
90%.
In Michigan, roadside litter was reduced 41 % one year after bottle bill enactment.
Iowa's Department of Transportation found a 77% decrease in beverage container
litter and a 38% reduction in total litter in 1979 and 1980; Costs decreased as Iowa
spent 73% less in 1983 than in 1977 on litter cleanup.
California uses redemption centers- 1,100 grocery store recycling centers carry the
load for all 40,000 locations selling beer or carbonated drinks.
The recycling rate for beverage containers doubled in California from 35+% to
75.6%
® A Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group commissioned a study that
showed an expanded bottle bill in that state would reduce public health costs
resulting from cuts on broken glass by over $1.1 million.
Of the ten states with bottle deposit bills combined, population of approximately 77
million, 1.6 million tons of beverage containers were recycled compared to the
remaining 40 states combined, population of approximately 186 million, who
recycled only 1.3 million tons of beverage containers in 1995.
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS URGING THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL
LEAGUE TO SUPPORT CHANGES IN STATE LAW TO
CREATE A DEPOSIT SYSTEM FOR GLASS AND PLASTIC
BOTTLES,- AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, discarded glass and plastic bottles in vacant lots and along city
rights-of-way cause cities to expend additional revenue to remove the litter-, and
WHEREAS, in addition to the litter created by discarded glass and plastic bottles,
cities with a population of 100,000 or more that are required to have a National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination Permit issued by the EPA must monitor and reduce floatables in
storm water; and
WHEREAS, cities conduct clean-ups at different times of the year, but the
problem of glass and plastic bottles persists. littering vacant lots and city rights-of-way
and interfering with a city's storm water system', and
WHEREAS, ten states have implemented a glass and plastic bottle deposit
system and have substantially reduced littering.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS. -
Section 1. That all matters stated in the preamble are true and correct and are
incorporated herein as if stated in their entirety.
Section 2. That the City of Grapevine urges the Texas Municipal League to
support the establishment of a state-wide deposit system for glass and plastic bottles.
Section 3. That the City Secretary forward certified copies of this resolution to
all State legislators representing the City of Grapevine and to the Texas Municipal
League.
Section 3. That this resolution shall become effective from and after the date
of its passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this the 15th day of August, 2000.
m
ATTEST:
FI -11 a a Molyl c I 111 vil % •0