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The United States’ overall beverage container recycling rate is approximately 33%, while states with container deposit laws have a 70% average rate of beverage container recycling. Michigan’s recycling rate of 97% from 1990 to 2008 was the highest in the nation, as is its $0.10 deposit
In 2011, unclaimed (abandoned) deposits amounted to approximately $104 million in New York, $33.5 million in Massachusetts and $17.8 million in Michigan.3
Who keeps the unclaimed deposits? California and Hawaii – State-Managed Systems In the States of California and Hawaii, a special unit of the State manages and controls the finances of the beverage container recycling system. In the other U.S. states that have container deposit systems, the operations and financing are managed by the beverage industry. In California and Hawaii, the state collects the deposits from distributors when the beverages are sold to retailers. The bottler or distributor pays the deposit directly into a state-managed fund and collects the deposit from the retailer. The retailer then collects the deposit from the consumer. Any unclaimed deposits simply remain within this state-managed fund and are used to pay for the recycling program.Oregon, Iowa and Vermont – Distributors Keep Unclaimed Deposits In Oregon, Iowa and Vermont, the bottlers and distributors keep all unclaimed deposits. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Maine and Michigan – Full and Partial Escheats In these states, distributors and bottlers are required to turn over all or a portion of unclaimed deposits to the state. The unclaimed deposits are said to “escheat” to the state, in much the same way that abandoned property escheats to the state when there are no heirs to claim or take ownership of it.Michigan escheats 75 percent of unclaimed deposits, and distributes the other 25 percent to retailers as a way to offset their handling costs. Massachusetts and Connecticut escheat 100 percent of unclaimed deposits; New York escheats 80 percent of unclaimed deposits, and Maine escheats unclaimed deposits from those distributors that are not part of a commingling agreement.
Considering how effective this method is and how low the recycling rates are in states which do not have it, I was wondering what are the reasons other states do not use such system.
Michigan's bottle deposit law was put in place in the 1970s to reduce roadside litter, clean up the environment and conserve energy and natural resources.
originally posted by: Metallicus
a reply to: Cabin
Considering how effective this method is and how low the recycling rates are in states which do not have it, I was wondering what are the reasons other states do not use such system.
Because we still value freedom in most of the United States and an authoritarian bottle tax to force a certain behavior is distasteful. I would vote out any fool that tries to pass more unnecessary laws. We have enough damn laws.