From Jack Killgore
January 29, 2008
I have recently moved to Tennessee from California and I am appalled at the amount of roadside trash throughout the state! The vast majority of this trash is plastic and glass bottles. Why is there no incentive for recycling this garbage? A small returnable deposit has completely eliminated beverage container refuse throughout CA. There is absolutely no reason not to implement a container deposit in TN! It is time that the elected officials in TN start paying attention to the people who live here and stop supporting special interests! TN is buried under a mountain of trash that could easily and readily be returned for deposit! What in The world is preventing this?
From Tom Wachter, Knoxville
February 20, 2007
I am but one individual who would like to say that I support the bottle bill. It is one small step. I moved my family from Buffalo NY last year and can't believe how much cleaner Buffalo, and all of NY state is compared to Knoxville TN. Once people accept this it becomes a way of life and nobody complains. Tennessee is the most trashed state I have ever seen...and I have seen a few. It is a pure shame and a disgrace for everyone.
I have vowed that I need to be active in this war against trash. Knoxville has had all it can take. It is such an embarrasment to get a visit from family up north and have them see all this. When I talk of getting county officials to act on this it falls on deaf ears.I am sure if this were in their area it would have been picked up a lot sooner.
From Diane and Richard Copley, Fisherville
March 29, 2006
(copied to their legislators)
We have recently moved back to TN, where we grew up, from VT, where we lived for 17 years. We would love to see TN's roads looking like those in VT and New England, where the bottle deposit was very effective. Please add our names to the bottle bill supporter list.
back to top
From Kathy Sweet, Naples, Maine,
March 29, 2006
I know you have probably already thought of this in your research, but I just wanted to let you know that in our little “hamlet” of about 3,000 people (in the winter), we make over $300 per month for Habitat for Humanity from returnables. We have a separate bottle bin set up at the local redemption center. The owner empties the bin, counts the cans and I pick up a check once a month. The Lion’s Club that sponsors local education funding for schools has a bin next to ours and they also make that much per month.
It is big business for the owner of the redemption center and is a great way to fund charities/non-profits.
Just thought I’d pass on another little success story.
Good luck!
back to top
From Bill Murdoch, Kingsport
(copy of letter sent to 43 legislators and other elected officials, March 16, 2006)
I am a retired Eastman Chemical Company engineer and spent the largest part of my career working on the development and manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for bottles and other packaging applications.
I am the inventor on three patents related to the recycling of PET. These are US patents 6,545,061 Recycling of Polyethylene Terephthalate with Regeneration of Acetic Acid; 6,723,873 Production of Terephthalic Acid and Ethylene Glycol from Polyethylene Terephthalate by Ammoniolysis; and 6,410,607 Glycolysis Process for Recycling of Post-Consumer PET. Once used PET bottles can be easily recycled into new bottles, carpet fiber, fiberfill fiber, and other uses. The impediments are not technical. They are economic. A recycling bill in Tennessee would help overcome the economic obstacles to recycling by increasing the supply of good, clean, inexpensive PET bottles for recycling.
I live on Patrick Henry Lake in Sullivan County and see the large number of PET bottles that float into the lake after every rainstorm. A deposit on PET bottles would greatly reduce the number of bottles that wash into our creeks and rivers.
I am appalled by the amount of litter I see along our roads. Roadside trash is a major eyesore in Tennessee in spite of the continuing efforts of our government employees, volunteers, and inmates to remove it. A container deposit would reduce a large amount of this waste.
The cost of garbage landfill operations increases each year. Sullivan County is once again faced with opening a new landfill. Reducing the number of containers in domestic garbage would reduce the volume of the garbage, extending life of landfills and reducing their cost to local governments.
I am heartily in favor of the Tennessee Beverage Container Deposit Act of 2006. I urge you to work for its passage.
back to top
From Anthony Lanzalaco, Cosby
(copy of letter sent to the Knoxville News Sentinel)
In reply to Steve Smith's letter denouncing bottle deposit laws, he should get his facts straight. There are 11 states with such laws, the last being Hawaii.
Their law passed in 2002. No state has ever repealed a bottle deposit law. The cost to the consumer is nil unless they decide to not
return the bottle/can.
Redemption rates are 65% to 97%.
Vermont has had a bottle bill for over 33 years.
Although 90% of litter is other than beverage containers,
the other litter will disappear in days, weeks or months.
Cans will lay there for a hundred years. And bottles? A thousand years. A bottle bill is an inconvenience we should live with for the sake of a better-looking Tennessee.
Get over it Mr. Smith.The sky isn't falling. Food chains bigger than Food City have survived and I'm sure it will, too.
back to top
From Jeffrey Corthell, Knoxville
I have lived in Knox County for five years and after five years of picking up litter on my street; I want to express my thoughts on this subject.“Litter” seems evenly divided between beverage containers and fast food/take-out containers/wrappers/bags. A five-cent deposit will go a long way to reduce beverage container litter and increase recycling, and other states have proven the worth. “Tennessee Trash” may continue to throw out containers, but there will be folks ready to pick them up.
The remainder of the litter problem could be helped by a simple tax on take-out food. A one or two percent tax on take-out could be used by local governments to fund permanent “litter pickup” crews to clean up all of our streets and roads. Since the folks that are buying the take-out are the ones littering, they might as well pay for the clean up.
back to top
From Lynn Chastain, Lebanon
February 12, 2006
There are 2 main reasons I support a bottle bill.
1. A bottle bill would have a positive impact on our environment. I know there would still be litter. However, I can send pictures of my front lawn. About half the litter is from drink containers. No one can deny that a bottle bill would result in less litter on our roadsides.
2. As a nation we must increase our recycling efforts. Most plastics are made from crude oil or natural gas. We can't keep throwing away items that can reduce our energy consumption by recycling them. The long-term cost of not recycling is much greater than the few pennies per container it may cost.
back to top
From Bob Clark, Limestone
January 26, 2006
I just made my 3rd trip this week up and down about 1/2 mile of Cockateil Road in eastern Greene County. I retrieved 24 items as follows:
17 beer cans
5 beer bottles
1 wine bottle
1 cardboard beer "carton"
BB objectors can quibble all they want about mass, volume, number of specific types of items, etc., but today's haul was fairly typical. I.e., at 5 cents each for cans and bottles, the $1.15 would have paid for my Gator gas. And without the deposit items (cans and bottles), I would only have retrieved 1 non-deposit item.
I realize that a sample size of 1 (1 day on 1 section of rural road in 1 county) is statistically meaningless, but again, the haul was fairly typical and goes on, week after week after week. Friday, Saturday, and Wednesday nights typically provide an increased number of items. Those must be drinking nights.
I shudder to think how dangerous it is on these roads with all this drinking and driving.
back to top
From Donald and Cynthia Davis, Piney Flats
January 18, 2006
Having just moved to the very beautiful state of Tennessee last year, we are so impressed with the parks, lakes, rivers, forest, etc. We are also strong supporters of recyling and doing all we can to save our environment. The Tennessee Bottle Bill is an excellent way to keep our state beautiful and to support recyling. We have written to the governor, our representatives our strong support of this bill.
back to top
From Michelle R. and Mark S. Schilling, Knoxville
January 12, 2006
My husband and I would like to add ourselves to the list of supporters for the bottle bill. We are both former Michigan residents, and can absolutely vouch for the statistics stating that residents of states that already have a bottle bill in effect are very supportive of that bill, and would be upset if it were taken away.
I also have to say that having lived in the UT campus area, and having either lived at or visited Oakland University (Auburn Hills, MI), Michigan State University, and University of Michigan, those campuses in Michigan seemed to have a MUCH cleaner off-campus residential area, in comparison to the off-campus residential area at UT. I believe that this is no coincidence, and that the MI bottle bill is a major factor. I would attribute this to multiple factors of how the bottle bill affects an area.
Dormitory students tend to save their "empties" and then turn them in all at once when they are low on cash - when you're just dropping your "empties" into a box, you tend not to keep track of how much has accumulated. When you turn that box full of empties in, it's like finding money in the wash that you forgot you had. Off-campus students, primarily houses rented by multiple students as a group, tend to have the occasional party. While there is usually a central keg that provides the majority of alcoholic beverage, there is usually also a significant amount of beverage provided in cans, and sometimes bottles. These containers would be a source of trash, but most students are more keen on the idea that if they collect the "empties," part of the cost of throwing their party will be returned, and help fund the next party. Additionally, as university areas do tend to attract panhandlers, homeless, and drug/alcohol addicts, part of the litter problem is also solved when these individuals collect the containers to fund their own interests.
Outside of university towns, my husband and I have observed additional benefits, as well. In the past, I remember a cousin of mine saving up for a new bike by collecting "empties." My aunt or uncle would take him out at dusk to the local parks, playgrounds, baseball fields, football field, outdoor ampitheatre, etc. They would sit in the car and watch to be sure of his safety (he was 12 or 14 at the time), and my cousin would go and collect every container he could find on the ground. They would go home, and put the bags of containers in the garage, and once a week, they would take him to turn them in and then to the bank to deposit the savings into his account. An interesting note is that now, it is prohibited to collect empty containers in some locations, because the institutions owning the property have discovered that collecting empties on their premises can be lucrative and have employed persons to collect the "empties," which is another benefit of sorts (employment).
When I was in the tenth grade (1993-94), I was a member of my high school's marching band, and we were invited to London, England, to perform in the New Year's Eve/Day festivities. A trip to London at that time of year is not cheap, and it would have been a shame if the entire band weren't able to attend. Various fundraisers were organised to help alleviate the expenses. The cost was reduced significantly by fundraisers, one of the most productive being "bottle drops." Information was distributed to the surrounding communities in advance, so that they could save empty beverage containers for the fundraiser. Then, the students in the marching band would go in groups to various neighborhoods to collect any "empties" that residents were willing to donate. It proved quite effective.
One feature of the proposed bottle bill here in Tennessee that I think would be a major improvement over the existing bottle bill in MI (and the majority of other states that currently have a bottle bill in effect), is the fact that more types of beverage container would have a deposit placed upon them. As most states have a growing concern with plastic water bottles besmearing the landscape, I feel that this would be an improvement, because it would promote picking up (or not tossing onto the ground in the first place) a wider variety of litter, further reducing the visible trash on the ground and in landfills.
I believe that if Tennessee residents were to vote this bill in to law, they'd be quite pleasantly surprised at the results. If it became a bad thing, it would only be a matter of changing the laws again, not something unheard of in this country. Truthfully though, neither I, nor my husband can recall, during the many years that either of us lived in Michigan, ever hearing anyone complain about the bottle bill there, and actually believe that it would be a source of dissent if it were ever repealed.
back to top
From Rob Nicar,
Bristol
December 13, 2005
I support the efforts to enact a bottle/can deposit for the State of Tennessee.
My experience as a volunteer and chairman of the annual South Holston Lake and River Clean-Up over the past thirteen years has convinced me that this law will aid in
protecting our natural resources. The states I've visited that currently have a deposit law in
place are noticeably cleaner.
I view cleaning our roadsides as an economic development tool for attracting
business, promoting tourism and a show of respect for the wonderful lands and waters of Tennessee.
back to top
Letter to Representative Russell Johnson from Bobby Wilson,
Assistant Chief of Fisheries, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (used with permission)
October 6, 2005
I read with interest an article in the Local Section of the Tennessean today concerning your efforts to lobby for a 5 cent deposit on most bottles. I wanted to let you know that I fully support your efforts.
About 10 years ago, when I was the President of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, I recommended to our chapter a resolution that was similar to your bill. Our chapter unaminously approved the resolution and presented it to the then Tennessee Conservation League (now called the Tennessee Wildlife Federation). The TCL endorsed the resolution and presented it to the General Assembly along with their other resolutions for that year. Unfortunately their resolution did not pick up a sponsor and it went nowhere. You should know that the TCL has on at least 2 other occasions (1975 and 1977) presented similar resolutions to the General Assembly, but also to no avail.
I was born and raised in Tennessee and have ancestors dating back to the early 1800's in middle Tennessee and I am very proud of my state and my heritage. I hate the fact that the countryside of Tennessee is full of litter, most of which is from beverage containers. I am convinced that legislation for a "bottle bill" is the only way to get our state cleaned up from such massive and disgusting amounts of litter.
I realize that you have an uphill battle, but if there is anything that I can do, or that the Tennessee Chapter of the American Fisheries Society can do, please let me know. We will all be more than happy to help.
back to top
From Michael Ligon, Waynesboro
April 8, 2005
I'm on active duty with the Navy, assigned to the
Naval Personnel Command here in Millington. I was stationed here before,
from 1998 to 1999, at which time my wife Karen and I became proud Tennessee
residents through our purchase of our retirement property in Wayne
County.
After living in four other states and four different foreign countries,
we found our slice of Heaven right here in Tennessee--but it disturbs
us greatly to see our adoptive state so trashed with litter.
Littering is a common problem, but it has been
particularly bad in the Southern states for a long time. As a child
I remember riding with
my
Grandfather to and from Johnny Guitreau's bar in French Settlement,
Louisiana, and watching him throw his empty beer bottles out of the
car. However,
years later, near the end of his life, as he was being driven home
from a doctor's appointment by my mother, he stared sadly out the car
window
and commented that it was a "damn shame" that there was so
much litter in his beloved Louisiana. At that moment I'm sure he regretted
throwing every one.
The incredibly beautiful property we own in
Wayne County has hills, trees, wildlife, spring-fed creeks and honest-to-goodness
waterfalls.
However,
the road that leads to our property once led to the county dump,
closed years ago due to toxic waste concerns. Despite its closure,
some locals still seem to think that the road is where they can dump
their trash and as a result the road is constantly
littered, more so than the rest of the county.
Right now on the highest
stretch of our road there are hundreds of redbud trees blooming
against a backdrop of pine trees. It is a beautiful contrast, the bright
pink
buds growing next to the deep green pine needles. But it is an
ugly
contrast
with those ubiquitous bright green plastic soda bottles that line
our road and virtually every other rural road in Tennessee. Last
week a
neighbor of ours noted to us how, during her morning walks, she
could track the
comings and goings of one particular neighbor by following the
trail of his discarded beer bottles--they're easily seen in the ditches
with their bright silver labels. Our neighbor across the road,
an immigrant
from Hungary, said that our road reminds him of the beautiful old
forests of central Europe--that is, when the grass has grown
high
enough to
hide the cans and bottles.
Ironically, Wayne County offers a centrally located,
no-fee (!) trash and recycling center--open on weekends! Why aren't
the cans
and bottles
being taken there? Because there is no incentive to do so. My
wife and I are incredibly proud of our adopted home state of Tennessee.
But we
are also embarrassed to show our friends and families our property
because of the litter. On our property we can pick up Native
American
artifacts
quite literally by the bucket load--scrapers, choppers, hammer
stones, and the occasional arrowhead. These tools are all fascinating,
beautiful,
and an honorable testament to their ingenuity, skill, and hardiness.
But what will be our legacy when the Tennesseans of the future
only find our discarded cans and bottles?
Until all of our Tennessee children grow up knowing
how wrong littering is, money is one of the few things that will motivate
people to
stop littering right now. Considering how poor Wayne County
is,
I know
that if the bill passes there will be immediate improvements
in that county,
both scenic and economic. Let's not be like my Grandfather
who realized too late in his life that he was part of the problem,
and not part
of the solution. Please pass the Bottle Bill!
back to top
From Tamara
L. Vassey, Martin
Athletic Development Coordinator,
University of Tennessee at Martin
April 8, 2005
I think the bottle bill is an excellent idea.
I would love to see it passed. I am a strong, avid supporter of recycling.
When I recently moved to Martin, Tennessee, from the
coast of North Carolina,
I was very disappointed to find that we do not have
curbside recycling here or a recycling center (outside of a Boy
Scout troop)
in or near the city of Martin.
Tennessee is a beautiful state.
Let's pass this in an effort to keep it beautiful.
back to top
From Thomas Kist, Chuckey
April 12, 2005
I lived in Nashville for 26 years and was
into recycling cans before moving to Greene County. My home state of
Maine
has a bottle
bill. The first year they saved about $475,000 in litter pick-up!
Several years ago I wrote a letter to Gov. Ned McWherter about getting
a bottle bill passed. He didn’t think it was a good idea. I am
for the bill. It will save the state money, also it will keep the state
free of trash.
back to top
From Kenneth Schnaars,
Nashville
April 22, 2005
I read the article in the Tennessean the other day and
I was happy to see other people upset with litter diminishing the beauty
of this beautiful state. I wrote a letter a couple of years ago and
sent pictures to public officials, the Tennessean, and television stations.
The only one who responded to me was the public official and basically
he wrote me a thanks-but-no-thanks response. My letter requested that
we should enact a bottle law for plastic, glass and aluminum containers
and talked about the success of such states as Michigan with their
bottle law. Secondly, my letter requested that a fee be assessed to
fast-food establishments to offset the clean-up costs for picking
up containers from their businesses. Thirdly, I requested that fines
for
littering be substantially increased. Lastly, I talked about changing
the mindset of the public by going into schools and talking to children
about litter and the environment. Thanks for taking a stand.
back to top
From James H.
Baker, Memphis
August 26, 2005
My interest in bottle bills began about six years ago.
At that time, when in the employ of the City of Memphis storm water
pollution
program, I responded to a complaint of pollution in McKellar Lake.
The complainant showed me some photos he had taken early that morning.
The photos depicted a massive raft of floating debris that had completely
paralyzed operations at the marina. Among the other debris were
many thousands of beverage containers. As the raft had been blown
away by a strong spring breeze, I was taken on a boat ride to show
me another raft of debris that had formed at the mouth of Nonconnah
Creek, the largest of two creeks that empty in McKellar Lake. I
was absolutely flabbergasted. I knew Memphis had (and still has)
a major litter problem, but seeing those thousands of beverage containers
proved it. The complainant carefully nosed his boat around the
raft and asked if screens could be placed at the mouth of Nonconnah
Creek to catch all the litter? My answer was, "Sadly, that
is impossible." The water flow and the weight of the litter
would collapse any screen system. He asked, "What then?"
Other than "do not litter," I had no other answer, which
was aggravating for both of us. While I answered all sorts of
pollution complaints since that day, I never forgot that day on McKellar
Lake. I discussed the problem with my co-workers. They
too, saw that over 50 percent of a given pile of roadside litter was
recyclable beverage containers, but we all did not have a ready answer
to how to reduce it.
I have since retired, and have become more active with conservation
organizations. I since learned about bottle bills, and I am committed
to educating the public so that they will engage in grassroots lobbying
efforts so that our Legislators and Governor will see the wisdom of
enacting a bottle bill and make the Volunteer State the 12th state
in the nation with such common sense legislation.
back to top
From Cindy Emmertz, Gray, Maine
May 2005
Keep up the good work on this very important bill,
it has to pass to help keep your state clean. As you know we
have one in Maine. . . .and it really does keep our state very
clean of bottles and cans. You pay a 5-cent deposit ( 15 cents on wine/liqour)
and some redemptions give you a penny more
when you redeem them. Works for us. I don't think we wanted
it at first, but once you get used to it and go to other places that
don't have a bottle bill, it's really sad that all of this
stuff could be recycled again and also keep the state clean.
I wouldn' want it any other way in our state. So keep up the good work, and hopefully soon that bill will pass for
your great state.
back to top
