Washington lawmakers push for recycling scheme at your expense
Washington lawmakers are considering legislation, known as the “bottle bill,” that would impose a new bottle deposit system on residents, despite concerns that similar programs in other states have led to higher costs, fraud, and declining recycling rates.
House Bill 1607, sponsored by Rep. Monica Stonier (D-Vancouver), would require consumers to pay a 10-cent deposit on every beverage container at checkout, with the promise that they can receive a refund upon returning the empty containers. Critics argue the proposal is a hidden tax, designed more to generate state revenue than to improve recycling rates.
If enacted, HB 1607 would require businesses to:
- Register with the state and track every bottle sold
- Set up new collection and redemption systems
- Comply with new reporting regulations and administrative requirements
Complying with the requirements will be costly. And guess who will pay? Consumers. Small businesses will struggle to meet these new requirements, which they will undoubtedly pass down the cost to consumers in the form of higher prices on beverages.
One might say that cost is worth protecting our planet, but similar programs in other states have proven otherwise. Michigan, which has operated a bottle deposit system for decades, saw its return rate drop from nearly 100% in the 1990s to below 75% today. The decline has been attributed to inefficiencies, consumer inconvenience, and widespread fraud.
In Michigan, state officials have prosecuted individuals attempting to redeem out-of-state containers, with some cases carrying felony charges and up to five years in prison. Despite these efforts, fraudulent redemptions remain widespread, raising concerns that Washington would face similar enforcement issues.
But here’s the real question we should all be asking: is this really just a hidden tax? HB 1607 allows residents to reclaim their deposit by returning bottles, but if they don’t, the state keeps the money. With state lawmakers facing a budget shortfall due to overspending, this creates a perverse financial incentive—the more inconvenient the redemption process, the more the government stands to gain.
If passed, get ready for a complex bureaucracy, limited return locations, and a burdensome system that will make it unnecessarily difficult for consumers to reclaim their deposits. Meanwhile, millions in unclaimed deposits will be funneled to the state, turning this so-called “recycling refund” into nothing more than a backdoor tax on consumers.
The bill is currently being debated in the legislature, with a vote expected in the coming weeks. Residents concerned about the bill are encouraged to contact their legislators and speak out before it’s too late.