NWRA Releases White Paper on Impact of Bottle Bills on Curbside Recycling Programs

Arlington, VA – The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) released its latest white paper, Bottle Bills Impact Curbside Recycling Programs. Most states instituted bottle bills as litter abatement programs before curbside recycling began. The white paper identifies ways in which bottle bills affect curbside recycling programs by diverting valuable commodities from MRFs.

“States frequently turn to bottle bill legislation in an effort to increase recycling,” said NWRA President and CEO Darrell Smith. “However, the facts do not bear that out. Revenue reductions to recycling programs from bottle bills will only make curbside recycling programs more expensive and more difficult to increase the national recycling rate.”

Bottle bills do not necessarily increase recycling rates. For example, in 2019, Michigan had an 89% beverage container redemption rate but a very low overall recycling rate of 19%.

NWRA White Papers are issued to NWRA members for their use in advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels.