New Jersey's Smart Container Act basically requires a 10¢ and 20¢ deposit on all personal beverage containers and establishes a redemption process for the state of NJ.  The bill was modeled primarily after Michigan which has 10¢ deposits, but includes aspects from the ten other bottle bill states.  As in Michigan the Smart Container Act has two key provisions: 

 1. The proposal's escheat provision requires that 75 percent of the unclaimed deposits would be kept by the State while the other 25 percent would be redistributed proportionately to retailers and redemption centers by the State Treasurer for handling costs, based on the total number of beverage container redeemed as provided in the certified monthly reports.  

2. The State's unclaimed deposits would be deposited in an environmental fund to defray the costs of administration, public education and enforcement programs, and to provide grants for various environmental projects, including land preservation, litter cleanup and public area beautification activities. 

The Smart Container Act takes the best of the nation's bills and will become a model legislation for other states as a tool to double recycling rates, reclaim precious natural resources, reduce global warming, reduce litter in our waterways, beaches, and roadsides.

Enacting this Bill will be a tremendous political challenge, as the retailers association and beverage industry routinely invest millions of dollars to oppose deposit legislation.  However, the industry must become part of the solution and municipalities will save tax dollars by being relieved of a considerable portion of the recycling responsibility.

People and institutions are resistant to change, but with dismal recycling rates in New Jersey, a budget crisis looming, and will Global Warming new strategies must be enacted.

In 2009, Everyone in NJ is concerned about budget deficits.  The bottle bill would bring money into the state tax base and help the economy.  But that is something that the leaders of the Assembly & Senate don't understand yet.

Assemblywoman Huttle's is the prime sponsor of the bill and is determined, but this is election year, so the Smart Container Act may have to wait until November when she and the other assembly supporters are re-elected.

Progress

January 8, 2008: The bill was Introduced and referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee

May 12, 2008: The NJ Assembly’s Environment and Solid Waste Committee held an invitation-only hearing to hear expert testimony