Bottle Bill Update

May 12, 2006

The 2006 Legislative Session is behind us and as we gear up for our next year of legislative and public education on the WV Bottle Bill, you might be interested in hearing what we are up against.

WV-CAG, as part of the People's Election Reform Coalition, monitors campaign contributions made to our state legislators.  During the 2004 election, the beverage industry contributed more than $89,000 to candidates who went on to win their legislative race for state Senate or House, up 43% from 2002.  Coca-Cola's PAC alone contributed $39,992 and PACs for Pepsi and the Beer Wholesalers gave $11,750 and $15,050 respectively.  The PAC for the convenience stores (OMEGA) gave $9,800.

It's safe to predict that as our campaign to bring a Bottle Bill to West Virginia grows, so will campaign contributions from the groups opposed to the legislation.  It is SO important that your legislators hear regularly that you support the WV Bottle Bill because they hear from industry lobbyists at the interims and at fundraisers throughout each and every election year.

Good News:  Bottle bill passes N.Y. State Assembly, moves to Senate next

May 11 -- A new bottle bill that would extend deposits to noncarbonated beverages passed the New York State Assembly and now will be considered by the State Senate. Called the "Bigger, Better Bottle Bill," the Assembly passed the measure by a 91-45 vote.

The state´s current 5-cent deposit would extend to beverages including bottled water and iced tea if approved by the senate.

"The bottle bill is the single most effective recycling and anti-litter law that we have. It is time to improve the law by adding deposits on noncarbonated beverages," New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said.

The bill also would divert unclaimed deposits to the state´s Environmental Protection Fund, which pays for recycling and environmental protection programs.

QUICK FACTS ON BOTTLED WATER VERSUS CLEANING UP THE DRINKING WATER SUPPLY

    * Members of the United Nations estimate that if the world took half of what it currently spends on bottled water ($100 billion annually) and invested it in water infrastructure and treatment, everyone in the world could have access to clean drinking water.

    * But bottled water is cleaner, right? Actually, the U.S. EPA sets more stringent quality standards for tap water than the FDA does for bottled beverages, and roughly 40% of bottled water is actually just tap water.

    * 1.5 billion barrels of oil are consumed each year to produce the plastic for water bottles, enough to fuel 100,000 cars.

    * According to the Container Recycling Institute, only 14 percent of plastic water bottles are recycled.

    * A water bottle in a landfill or lying around as litter will take over 1,000 years to biodegrade.