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DOCCUMENT RESUME
04236 - [B3434698]
Potential Effects of a National Mandatory Deposit on Beverage
Containers. PAD-78-19; B-166506. December 7, 1977. 59 pp. + 2
appendices (22 pp.).
Report to the Congress; by Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller General.
Issue Area: Environmental Protection Programs: Solid Waste
Disposal and Resource Recovery (2206).
Contact: Program Analysis Div.
Budget Function: Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy:
Pollution Control and Abatement (304).
Organization Concerned: Environmental Protection Agency;
Department of Energy; Council on Environmental Quality.
Congressional Relevance: House Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce; Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation; Congress.
Authority: 40 C.F.E. 244.
Proposals Lave been introduced in Congress since 1970
to require refundable deposits on all beverag,- containers in
order to reduce litter and waste. A mandatory deposit system
would change the national beverage system from about 25% to J00%
deposit containers. Findings/Conclusions: Some changes expected
to result from required deposits on beverage contailers are:
reductions in litter and solid waste; a rise in empty container
handling costs for retailers, wholesalers, and beverage
producers; and increased income for industry due to failure of
consumers to return all containers. Changes which would be
dependent on the number of new containers manufactured are
reductions in raw material consumption, energy use, and system
costs for containers, and increases in system costs for using
more refillable bottles. There would be increases in capital and
labor costs, but these would be more than offset by the decrease
in new container purchases and retained deposits. After the
initial capital costs, there would be a considerable decrease in
costs. There would probably be decreases in bottle production
which would cause job losses, but these would be offset by
increased employment in beverage industries and retail stores.
Recommendations: If legislation for a Landatory deposit on
beverage containers is enacted, it should include: a deposit
imposed on all beverage containers, a lead-in period for
implementing the law to help industry convert its facilities,
funds to inform the public about the need to return containers,
enhanced access to retraining programs and unemployment
compensation for areas with employment problems resulting from
the legislation, some money from unredeemed deposits placed in a
fund for municipalities to clean up litter and solid waste,
analyses of effects after implementation, and a mechanism to
encourage can recycling. (Author/HTW)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaawhh0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)