Texas 2015
Senate Bill 1450
| Bill Number and Name | Senate Bill 1450 – An Act relating to water quality improvement and pollution reduction through beverage container recycling incentives (Companion Bill to House Bill 2425) |
|---|---|
| Primary Sponsor | Senator Ellis |
Activity
3/12/2015 Filed
3/12/2015 Received by the Secretary of the Senate
3/18/2015 S Referred to Natural Resources & Economic Development
Beverages Covered
The following drinks are covered under the proposed law: beer, ale, malt liquor, other drinks produced by fermenting malt, wine coolers, soda, water (including mineral and vitamin), carbonated water (including mineral carbonated), carbonated soft drinks, noncarbonated soft drinks and sport drinks, noncarbonated fruit drinks, energy drinks, coffee and tea drinks, and carbonated fruit drinks. Milk and containers over 1 gallon size are not included in the program.
Deposits and Fees
- Deposit: < 24 oz. = $0.05 refundable deposit on each valid container; at least 24 oz. = $0.10 refundable deposit on each valid container
- Handling Fee: $0.015 – for each container redeemed by the redemption center
Redemption System
- Return to redemption center: Redemption centers can be established, owned, and operated by either a local government or independent entity, where containers may be returned for their refund value.
- Redemption center owners and operators must attend biannual trainings
House Bill 2425
| Bill Number and Name | House Bill 2425 – An Act relating to water quality improvement and pollution reduction through beverage container recycling incentives (Companion Bill to Senate Bill 1450) |
|---|---|
| Primary Sponsor | Eddie Rodriguez |
Activity
3/05/2015 Filed
3/13/2015 Read First Time
3/13/2015 Referred to Environmental Regulation Committee
Beverages Covered
The following drinks are covered under the proposed law: beer, ale, malt liquor, other drinks produced by fermenting malt, wine coolers, soda, water (including mineral and vitamin), carbonated water (including mineral carbonated), carbonated soft drinks, noncarbonated soft drinks and sport drinks, noncarbonated fruit drinks, energy drinks, coffee and tea drinks, and carbonated fruit drinks. Milk and containers over 1 gallon size are not included in the program.
Deposits and Fees
- Deposit: < 24 oz. = $0.05 refundable deposit on each valid container; at least 24 oz. = $0.10 refundable deposit on each valid container
- Handling Fee: $0.015 – for each container redeemed by the redemption center
Redemption System
- Return to redemption center: Redemption centers can be established, owned, and operated by either a local government or independent entity, where containers may be returned for their refund value.
- Redemption center owners and operators must attend biannual trainings.
The 2013 Texas Campaign
| Bill Number and Name | SB 645, HB 1473 |
|---|---|
| Sponsors | Ellis |
| Beverages Covered | alcoholic, nonalcoholic, carbonated, or noncarbonated drinks. Excludes milk, 100% juice, and medical food. |
| Containers Covered | Sealed glass, metal, or plastic vessels, under 1 gallon |
| Deposits |
|
| Handling Fees | 1.5¢ per container |
| Unredeemed Deposits | Property of the state |
Details
This bill puts a deposit on a variety of beverages, a beverage being described as "an alcoholic, nonalcoholic, carbonated, or noncarbonated drink prepared in liquid, ready-to-drink form and intended for human consumption." Although the bill does not specifically exclude any type of beverage in the definition of "beverage," it does list a number of beverage types it includes; notably lacking are wine and liquor. Further on in the bill, milk, 100% juice, and medicinal foods are explicitly exempted from a deposit.
The bill also requires the creation of the Texas Beverage Container Consortium, a group of representatives from the beverage, retail, and recycling industries, consumers, and government, to administer the program. Among other responsibilities, the consortium is required to establish the budget, procedures, and enforcement for the refund system.
Under this system, distributors are required to remit all deposits every month to a dedicated account maintained by the Consortium. The fund is used to run the deposit system as well as the state's water infrastructure plan.
Every 2 years, 2% of the "unencumbered" funds in the account are to be returned to distributors, and 2.5% are to be remitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
In addition to the per-container refund values and handling fees, the bill also allows for a handling fee and refund value based on weight, to be determined by the Consortium.
Curbside recycling programs are also eligible for reimbursement.
Progress
February 19, 2013: Both bills Introduced.
On March 26, the House bill was reported "left pending" in an Evironmental Regulation subcommittee. On April 24, the Senate bill was reported "left pending" in a Finance subcommittee.
The 2011 Texas Campaign
Plastic Pollution Texas is the driving force behind the introduction of a bottle bill in 2011.| Bill Number and Name | HB 2114, SB 1119 |
|---|---|
| Author | Rep. Coleman, Senator Ellis |
| Beverages Covered | Beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks, mineral water, wine, coffee, tea, juices and non-carbonated waters. Dairy products excluded. |
| Containers Covered | All sealed containers made of glass, plastic or aluminum containing a beverage of 4 liters or less. |
| Deposits | 5¢ up to 24 oz 10¢ over 24 oz |
| Handling Fees | A handling fee to be paid to retailers, redemption centers, recycling centers and registered curbside operations. |
| Other Fees / Taxes | None |
| Reclamation System | Retail stores (optional), redemption centers, reverse vending machines, non-profit organizations. |
| Unredeemed Deposits | Property of Beverage Container Fund, administered by Comptroller of Pubic Accounts |
Details
The proposed Texas bill is expected to have numerous benefits, including revenue and jobs in collecting, hauling, processing, and re-manufacturing, thus closing the loop by providing recycling-reliant industry with much needed feedstock to recycle!
The goal for the program is to achieve a 75% beverage container recycling rate.
At the beginning of 2011, 28 county commissioners courts, representing over 9 million Texans, had expressed formal support of a Texas bottle bill.
Progress
March 3, 2011: House and Senate Bills introduced.
March 8, 2011: House Bill first reading, Referred to Environmental Regulation
March 16, 2011: Senate Bill first reading, referred to Finance
Contacts
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Texas Bottle Bill
1901 Lexington Street
Houston, TX 77098