Florida Legislators Call For Study to Investigate Container Deposit Program

Results of University of Florida economic study released as well as public poll showing Floridian’s support for beverage container deposit refund programs.

Members of the Florida Legislature announced that they will call for a study to examine the potential for a new program in Florida to reduce waste and litter, and increase recycling. Senators Jack Latvala, Dennis Jones, and State Representative Doug Holder joined with environmental and beverage container industry officials to speak out in favor the need for the legislature to study a glass deposit program in Florida.

State legislators cited the potential for a beverage deposit program to help reduce litter and meet the state’s 75% recycling goal for 2020. The study would also look at the potential for job creation and revenue generation. Also announced were results of a University of Florida economic analysis and statewide public opinion survey showing support for a container recycling refund program.

A UF Bureau of Economic and Business Research report found that 30 million beverage containers wind up in landfills, and some as litter. According to the study, a beverage container deposit refund system creates a financial incentive to discourage litter and landfill growth while encouraging recycling. It would also generate unredeemed deposit revenue of potentially $70 million annually to help the state finance services and offset other tax burdens. That offset could also result in at least 280 new high-paying jobs, including recycling and manufacturing, according to the analysis.

And a statewide public opinion survey by McLaughlin and Associates revealed that a strong majority of Florida voters (63%) approve of a proposal for Florida to create its own recycling refund program. A large majority (77%) has a positive opinion of recycling refund programs at work in other states. An overwhelming majority (82%) approve of Florida setting a goal to achieve a 75% recycling rate by 2020, and 83% of voters believe a recycling refund program would be helpful in Florida achieving that goal.

Bill Waltz, CEO of Strategic Materials, a large U.S. glass processor with Florida operations in Jacksonville and Sarasota, said his company was excited about the survey results. “The people of Florida certainly care about the environment and implementing a beverage container deposit program will help raise the state’s recycling rate while cleaning up litter, adding green jobs, and benefiting the economy of the state,” said Waltz.

In attendance at the announcement and voicing were representatives from Florida Wildlife Federation, the Florida Sierra Club, Florida Audubon, Defenders of Wildlife, Owens-Illinois, Inc., Container Recycling Institute, Strategic Materials Inc., Anchor Glass Container Corporation, the Glass Packaging Institute, and Verallia/Saint-Gobain Containers. Read local article