For the Environment Committee
Testimony of Alicea Charamut, River Steward
March 16, 2018
Strongly Supports RB 5457 – An Act Concerning Bottle Redemption Centers
Redemption centers and dealers are operating their businesses on fees established in 1980. They have not received a raise in 38 years! Think about how difficult it would be to operate your business or household on revenues that haven’t changed in four decades. The beverage industry has fought this measure every year because they do not want to be held financially responsible for the waste they create. The time is long overdue for you to stand up to the beverage industry and raise the handling fee so that the container deposit program can continue to reduce litter and increase recycling rates for future generations.
