A deposit return system, or bottle bill, would significantly reduce litter in North Carolina, dramatically increase recycling rates, generate millions in revenue for the state with increased material recovery, free up valuable landfill capacity, and contribute to the economy of our state.

The proposed Bottle Deposit Bill would require a 10-cent deposit on beverage container purchases, which would be refunded upon return and give consumers a financial incentive to recycle. 

Bottle deposit programs have proven effective at reducing beverage container litter by 70–80% and more than doubling recycling rates across the 10 other US states that have introduced them. A typical bottle bill state has plastic bottle recycling rates approximately 8 times higher than North Carolina (64% compared with 8% currently recycled in NC).[1​, 2]

Ways to Take Action:

1. Please sign this petition.
2. Share with your networks. Visit tinyurl.com/nc-bottle-bill for outreach resources.
3. Contact your state legislators (https://ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators).
4. Follow @ncbottlebill on Instagram for updates.

This petition is co-sponsored by North Carolina Plastic Waste Coalition, Cape Fear River Watch, Haw River Assembly, North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, NC Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation Bogue Banks Chapter and MountainTrue. To become an organizational cosponsor, please contact: ncplasticwastecoalition@gmail.com. 

For more information, please contact: ncplasticwastecoalition@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

Full letter to NC General Assembly

Dear North Carolina General Assembly Members,

Please support a deposit return system, or bottle bill, for North Carolina. 

A deposit return system, or bottle bill, would significantly reduce litter in North Carolina, dramatically increase recycling rates, generate millions in revenue for the state with increased material recovery, free up valuable landfill capacity, and contribute to the economy of North Carolina.

This proposed system, known as a Bottle Deposit Bill or deposit return system, would require consumers to pay a 10-cent deposit on beverage container purchases, which would be refunded upon return and give consumers financial incentive to recycle. Since 1971, these types of laws have been passed in 10 states and have reduced beverage container litter by at least 70%, more than doubled recycling rates, and have made state governments millions in economic gains from valuable material recovery.

Please support this legislation for the following reasons:

1. A bottle deposit would reduce beverage container litter in our communities by 70-80%, and total litter by up to 30%.[1​,2] Litter threatens the well-being of our communities, endangers wildlife, and releases microplastics and chemicals into our drinking water sources. Waterkeepers Carolina has found that bottles and cans make up approximately 40% of litter in North Carolina streams.[3] Further, litter is a financial burden to communities and governments across North Carolina. In 2023, the cost for state government agencies, local governments, and nonprofits to clean up litter amounted to at least $56.3M.[4]
2. It would double our recycling rates and increase landfill capacity. Landfills in North Carolina are filling up with valuable material, and NCDEQ warns that landfill capacity “could quickly become the Achilles heel in certain parts of the state.”[5] At present, our recycling rates are low and falling. NCDEQ has found that we recycle only 30% of PET plastic bottles and throw away more than $41M in plastic each year.
3. Bottle deposit systems also provide economic benefits through increased material recovery. Researchers estimate that the bottle deposit law in Massachusetts contributes $85–$151 million to the economy each year, including more than 2,000 jobs and $7 million in tax revenue.[6]
4. We already have bipartisan public in North Carolina support for a bottle bill due to its proven benefits. National polling in 2022 found that over 80% of Americans support bottle deposit laws, and 2024 polling in North Carolina found that 91% of Democrats and 74% of Republicans supported state government action regarding single-use plastics.[7​,8]

To clean up litter in our environment, increase recycling, recover valuable materials, free up landfill space, and contribute to the economy, please support the introduction and passage of a bottle deposit bill in North Carolina.

Sincerely,