May 20, 2026
This statement was submitted to members of the Senate Finance Committe to support a modest increase to support workers sorting redeem bottles and cans. Submitted May 19, 2026
As a member of the Senate’s Finance Committee, the Vermont Sierra Club and I would like you to know that bottles and cans that are returned for deposit, in addition to helping clean up our roadsides, provide a clean stream of material that can truly be turned into new cans and bottles, thereby “completing the loop” for materials. Bottles and cans that go through mixed recycling — our blue bins — are generally dirtier and are therefore turned into a new, single use material. For example, plastic bottles going through blue bins may be converted into carpeting, plastic decking or two-by-fours that ultimately end up in landfills after being used but once. Similarly, glass bottles that go through blue bins are likely to be turned into “glassphalt”, a road material that can only be used once before ultimately ending up in a landfill.
It is therefore important to recognize the need for redemption centers. The hard working employees and owners of these businesses need to be encouraged. The current handling fee received by redemption centers, 3.5 to 4 cents per container hasn’t increased since 2008. Since that time, the cumulative inflation rate has been 55%, which would translate to an increase in the handling fee of about 1.9 cents per container. The bill’s proposed increase of 1 cent is thus on the modest side. Please approve this modest increase in pay that is long overdue.
Sincerely,
David Ellenbogen
Former Chair of the Sierra Club of Vermont
Current member of Sierra Club Legislative Committee
