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Positive Senate Finance Sub-Committee Hearing 4-22-13

Senate Research hearing summary notes, "Recycling rates in Texas lag the national average and have not met the 40 percent goal established over a decade ago. Beverage container in particular remains low..."
(Click here to continue reading hearing summary. SB 645 overview begins on p.6.)
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Could HB1473 (Texas Bottle Bill) have influenced this decision?

cafe cafe Recycling glass and plastic bottles at the Capitol Café did not appear to be an issue earlier this year. Now we see a welcome improvement in Austin.

Truth be told, we don't know why they changed, but we do know that refundable deposits are the most effective way to drive recycling of beverage containers.

Environmental Reg Comm Hearing Report (2nd Hurdle Follow-Up)

Thank you for contacting the Environment Regulation Committee before the hearing last month, and thanks to those who made the trip to Austin to testify. NEXT STEP: As the Committee considers the bill, we need to re-enforce our position for HB 1473. Please contact the Committee. Thank them for their consideration of HB1473, let them know deposits are a positive incentive to recycle and would not influence your purchase decisions nor would it be inconvenient to recycle these containers. Our state recycles only 24% of containers sold, the balance are in landfills, on our roads and in our waterways. Let's make Texas first on the Gulf to pass deposit legislation with HB 1473.

To see the Committee's hearing held March 26 click here (and advance video to 3:06:00).
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One Nickel at a Time

It is so simple, it's a wonder Texas' schools have not been allowed to do this all along. A statewide program supporting a 5 cent REFUNDABLE deposit on beverage

containers could be used as a fundraiser for individual campuses across Texas. The same program could be used by ANY organization. Let your legislator know we need the "Bottle Bill."

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School Collects "Mock Refunds" for Container Drive

Elementary school students in Spring Texas carried bags full of empty beverage containers out to the recycling truck, and proceeds back into the school! Through a pilot program sponsored by the Texas Bottle Bill, designed to demonstrate how refundable deposits could help school funding, the school's PTO earned five cents for each empty beverage container the students produced. After collecting empty drink containers for nearly a month, they turned in more than 24,000 containers for recycling! The effort earned the school's PTO a check for $1,213. This kind of fundraiser could be held at every school in Texas if the state enacts refundable deposits on beverage containers.

From Street to Stream

With 17 billion beverage containers being sold in Texas and only 4 billion being recycled, there is no better way to prevent the containers from polluting

our valuable waterways. Asking folks to stop littering has just created ongoing efforts to clean up after the tosser. Deposits will stop the containers at the front door! (Please share.)

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NOTE: Additional articles (previously featured here on the front page) are available on our Older Cover Stories page.

NOW is the time to contact the Senate Finance Sub-Committee, and the Environmental Regulation Committee in the House, to urge they move SB 645 and HB 1473 out of Committees. (Click for contact list.)

Tell YOUR Legislators
to Support Refundable Deposits
(SB 645 and HB 1473).

Click here to TAKE ACTION NOW
Don't let special interests out speak you!

WHAT DO I SAY to the legislators?
If you would like suggestions click here!

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The NEW Texas Bottle Bill

Click for SB 645 or HB 1473

NO Retail Take Back
NO Distributor Backhauling
NO Tax Dollars Pay for Program
Private/Public Sector Board Established to Run Program
COG Grants for Water Quality and
Recycling Infrastructure
5 Cent Refundable Deposit on Aluminum, Glass and Plastic Beverage Containers.

CLICK HERE to see the NEW details.

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What Can YOU Do?

Contact your State Representative and State Senator:
Click here to identify you representative. Ask them to support this initiative.

Has your City/Town passed a resolution of support? Click here to see the list that have. If yours isn't on the list, contact your City Council and County Commissioner and ask them to pass a local resolution.

There's a lot you can do to help pass the Texas Bottle Bill. Contact us at info@texasbottlebill.com to learn how your civic organization, church or community group can get involved!

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Texas Bottle Bill In the News

Drink Up: New Bill Would Give You Cash Back For Empties — HB 1473 introduced by Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, calls for cash incentives to encourage recycling beverage containers. State Senator Rodney Ellis introduced the same bill into the senate. (StateImpact Texas, Feb 22, 2013)

Burchett Students Awarded Check for Recycling 24,000 Containers — Spring ISD students demonstrated "recycling pays" thanks to their work and a generous support of the Texas Bottle Bill team. (Spring ISD News, Jan 29, 2013)

Port Arthur signs petition for bottle bill Port Arthur has become part of a petition for the Texas Legislature that would mean less trash and more cash. (The Port Arthur News, Dec 12, 2012)

We are Making News — In the recent trip through northeast Texas, the Texas BottleMobile garnered attention from many news organizations. A sample can be see at: Sabine County Reporter, Shelby County Today, the Toledo Chronicle.

Shelby County Supports the Texas Bottle Bill — Shelby County adopted a resolution authorizing support for passage of State Legislation establishing refundable deposits. (Shelby County Today, Aug 14, 2012)

Junking up Our Highways — Plastics, metal and glass make up nearly 30% of the roadside litter. (USA Today Jun 2012)