[OKC] Seminole Lawmaker to Propose 5 cent Deposit Law

[Brian Figgins]

Last week, Oklahoma State Representative Ryan Kiesel announced that he 
plans to introduce a bottle and can deposit law next legislative 
session. 
<http://www.newsok.com/oklahoma-lawmaker-ryan-kiesel-to-propose-bottle-deposit-program/article/3403675> Many 
states have bottle deposit <http://www.bottlebill.org/> laws now.  These 
laws fight litter, promote better health, and support existing recycling 
programs. 

A deposit bill is not a tax on anyone... except perhaps a tax on the 
lazy.  People who purchase a can or bottle pay an extra $.05 fee which 
they get back when they return the item.

The details of the bill have yet to be determined and I have some 
questions myself.  Will Oklahoma keep 100% of the unredeemed deposits 
like Connecticut or return 100% of them to the retailers and bottlers 
like Oregon?

I would hope we would be closer to the New York model where the state 
keeps 80% of the unredeemed deposits and the retailers get the other 
20%. After all, the retailers would be the ones to collect the bottles 
and cans and have to recycle them.  I can't see Oklahoma passing such a 
bill if we don't allow them to keep some of the unredeemed deposits but 
the state would lose a lot of incentive if they did not get to keep some.

Let me know what you think.

Brian Figgins

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