Florida could enact bottle bill program

Florida state legislators have introduced bills to both the state’s House and Senate that would aim to create a bottle bill system in Florida. 

According to a report from the Tampa Bay Times, Florida House Bill 853, which was introduced by Rep. Richard Stark (D-Weston) March 5, and Florida Senate Bill 672, which was introduced by Sen. Kevin Rader (D-Delray Beach) March 5, call for consumers to pay a 20-cent or 30-cent deposit on plastic, glass and aluminum containers holding between 6 fluid ounces and 1 gallon.  

According to the Tampa Bay Times, Rader says he thinks the extra financial incentive of a bottle bill would translate to less litter and higher recycling rates. He adds that consumers would also get the money back when they return the bottles and cans. 

Currently, 10 other states employ bottle bills: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon and Vermont. If Florida moves forward with these bills, it would be the 11th state to enact a bottle deposit law.