1-16-13: Bottle Deposit Law Debated in Maryland

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EIF 1-16-13 POD.mp3

Maryland lawmakers are debating whether to follow 10 other states in requiring deposits (five cents in most states) on all bottles and cans to encourage consumers to recycle. Research by Dan Nees (above) and colleagues at the University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center found that Maryland residents buy 4 billion beverage containers every year, but only recycle 22 percent of them. That's less than the national average of 35 percent, and a fraction of the 67 percent in New York and the 97 percent in Michigan (which both have container deposit laws).