MACo Policy Associate Alex Butler yesterday submitted testimony to the House Environment and Transportation Committee in opposition to HB 99 Beverage Container Deposit Program – Establishment and Advisory Commission. This bill establishes a beverage container deposit program that would divert resources from county recycling programs. Additionally, this bill has the potential to create more confusion for residents about current recycling programs.

From the MACo Testimony:

The complex fiscal and operational underpinnings of a bottle deposit program could leave counties absorbing the long-term loss of key recycling revenue. Additionally, the new redemption infrastructure could upend Maryland’s efforts to promote citizen acceptance of and participation in recycling efforts. Maryland has debated – and rejected – various proposals to institute container deposits over the years. Recently, the General Assembly has consistently rejected various bottle bill programs and study proposals for several years since 2011.

Follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2021 legislative session on MACo’s Legislative Tracking Database.