In a joint press release published on April 20, 2020, industry associations representing aluminum, glass, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic beverage container manufacturers announced aligned support for container deposit programs. The associations report having contacted the governments in US states that currently have deposit programs to ensure consumers are properly informed about how, when, and where they can return used containers. They are advocating for governments to post clear information online and to also use an infographic targeted to help consumers.
Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the associations stress that “material from beverage container deposit systems generally account for 20-60% of the inputs our industries use to make our essential packaging.” The press release writes that “as the food and beverage industries have ramped up their production to meet unprecedented demand, a strong, dependable supply chain of recycled material is essential in order to meet their packaging needs.” Nationwide return rates for containers in states with deposit programs has been above 70%, which has shown consumers’ “strong desire to return, redeem and support manufacturing industries and their supply chains.”
“Beverage container deposit programs are essential to preserve the supply of postconsumer recycled PET,” commented Darrel Collier, the Executive Director of the National Association for PET Container Resources. “By incorporating postconsumer recycled PET in the production of new bottles, significant environmental savings are achieved, while continuing to work toward achieving content commitments by leading brand owners.”
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Can Manufacturers Institute (April 20, 2020). “Manufacturing Container-Focused Trade Associations Align in Support of Beverage Container Deposit Programs.”
Keller and Heckman LLP (May 7, 2020). “Trade Associations Request Support for Beverage Container Deposit Programs.”
