Public Interest Groups Call on D.C. Council to Pass Bottle Deposit Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Elliott Negin, D.C. Environmental Network, enegin@dcenvironmentalnetwork.org,
202-997-1472
Public Interest Groups Call on D.C. Council to Pass Bottle Deposit Bill
Introduced by 11 councilmembers, the bill would help clean up city streets and waterways
WASHINGTON (January 16, 2025)—The 23-member Return, Refund and Recycle for D.C. coalition (3RC for DC) today urged the D.C. Council to pass the Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Amendment Act of 2025, which would significantly reduce the massive amount of bottles and cans littering the city.
Introduced by Brianne Nadeau (Ward 1) and 10 of her D.C. Council colleagues, the bill would place a refundable 10-cent deposit on beverage containers sold in the District. Consumers would be able to redeem their deposit at grocery stores and other conveniently located sites, mainly through reverse vending machines. Beverage companies would fund the program, saving the D.C. government and taxpayers money on cleanup and recycling efforts.
“A strong bottle bill in D.C. would dramatically cut trash pollution in our rivers, our parks, and our neighborhoods,” said Christopher E. Williams, president of the Anacostia Watershed Society. “How can I be so sure? Because bottle bills have been operating in 10 states for decades, and in every one the data are conclusive: Recycling rates go way up, and litter from bottles and cans goes way down.”
According to the Container Recycling Institute’s 2021 “Beverage Market Data Analysis,” 75 percent of the 617 million beverage containers sold annually in the District is not recycled. Modeled on bottle deposit laws in 10 states, the bill introduced today could lead to as much as an 85-percent recycling rate for locally sold beverage containers, according to 3RC for DC, helping to fulfill the Sustainable D.C. goal of diverting 80 percent of citywide waste from landfills and incinerators by 2032.
“As billions of dollars are spent to restore the Anacostia River, passing a bottle bill is a common-sense measure to maximize our investment in our local waterways by reducing ongoing pollution,” said Vanessa Batters-Thompson, executive director at the D.C. Appleseed Center for Law and Justice. “This measure would not only cement the District’s reputation as a leader on sustainability issues but would also create new economic opportunities and green jobs for District residents.”
Lora Nunn, president of the Friends of Kingman & Heritage Islands, says the bottle deposit bill also would improve the lives of District children.
“D.C. needs a bottle bill to support the needs of our youth,” she said. “Our kids have not only been empowered to address the impact of trash in our community in the classroom but also through the programs offered at places like Kingman Island. A strong bottle bill would be a critical tool in the effort students are already making to improve our community and ensure that everyone is part of the campaign to reduce trash in the places our kids learn and grow.”
Besides Nadeau, the bill’s co-introducers include Charles Allen (Ward 6), Anita Bonds (At Large), Wendell Felder (Ward 7), Matthew Frumin (Ward 3), Janeese Lewis George (Ward 4), Christina Henderson (At Large), Phil Mendelson (Chairman), Zachary Parker (Ward 5), Brooke Pinto (Ward 2), and Robert White Jr. (At Large). They already have the support of eight D.C. advisory neighborhood commissions across the city that have passed resolutions supporting a strong, equitable bottle deposit bill.
For more information, see the 3RC for DC’s “Frequently asked Questions” web page.
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3RC for DC members include: Anacostia Parks & Community Collaborative, Anacostia Riverkeeper, Anacostia Watershed Society, Beautify D.C., Casey Trees, City Wildlife, D.C. Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, D.C. Environmental Justice Coalition, D.C. Environmental Network, D.C. Voters for Animals, Friends of Anacostia Park, Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Friends of Kingman & Heritage Islands, Friends of Oxon Run, League of Women Voters, Nature Forward, Potomac Riverkeeper Network, Rock Creek Conservancy, Sierra Club D.C. Chapter, Surfrider D.C. Chapter, Ward 8 Woods, Washington Parks & People, and the Zero Waste Coalition.
