About 225 people signed up to testify Oct. 1 before DC Council on the Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Act of 2025, or the Bottle Bill. The legislation would establish a recycling and refund collection program for bottles and cans in the District. Opponents say the bill is one more challenge for business already facing challenges. Proponents say the bill is needed to clean up the city’s streets and rivers and keep residents healthy.
The Problem
About 617 million cans and bottles are sold in DC annually. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau (Ward 1-D) said bottles are 60 percent of the 4 million tons of solid waste pulled from the District’s rivers annually, harming fish, wildlife and the Chesapeake Bay. Experts say micro chemicals in plastic are polluting the river and entering the food chain.
Trash is so severe that the Anacostia is one of only three U.S. waterways with a federal mandate to reduce trash. The Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) says the Bottle Bill is the most direct way to do that, since plastic bottles are the most common trash found—tens of thousands on any given day. “This one piece of legislation could cut the count of trash going into the river by a half or more,” said AWS’s Chris Williams, pointing to earlier bans on plastic straws, foam containers and plastic bags. AWS is part of 3RC for DC – the Return, Refund and Recycle Coalition for DC, which is advocating for the bill.
While some cite curbside recycling as a solution, contamination means only about 25 percent of plastic bottles and fewer glass containers are recycled. “The promise that was made to my generation years ago,” Nadeau said, “that if we dutifully put our recyclables in bins they would be recycled, is a lie.”
The Plan
The bill would place a 10-cent deposit on beverage containers, refunded when they are returned. Ten states have similar programs, including New York, Michigan and Oregon, where studies show waste is reduced by 84 percent and recycling triples.
Beverage distributors would pay fees based on their share of the 617 million containers sold annually. Larger distributors would also pay four cents per container to cover handling costs, which Nadeau’s office says should “more than cover costs.” Hotels, restaurants and businesses selling beverages for on-site consumption are exempt, as are retailers under 2,000 square feet from the requirement to accept returns.
“Bottle bills put the onus of addressing the problem on the beverage companies causing it, rather than taxpayers or the government,” said Nadeau’s office. “The vast majority of the cost will be covered by large national soda and beer companies.” Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen noted that more than 95 percent of bottles in the Anacostia come from the top 10 brands, including Pepsi, Coca-Cola and Anheuser-Busch, makers of Budweiser.
Opposition
A similar proposal was rejected by voters in 1987 after a $2 million campaign by the beverage industry. This time, the Alliance for an Affordable DC—supported by the American Beverage Association and the Food Industry Association—organized opposition via text messages linking to opposition form letters users can easily send to councilmembers. And Mayor Muriel Bowser has come out in opposition of the bill. “I don’t support it. It’s bad for business,” she said Sept. 20.
Nadeau said despite lobbyist claims, bottle bills have never been shown to raise beverage prices. But Wegmans manager Alicia Aponte said each retailer will decide how to handle the deposit. “It’s up to that business to decide where it ends.” Allen countered that prices are consistent at Wegmans for a case of water between Wegman’s stores in DC, Massachusetts and New York. The latter two states have a bottle deposit program.
Some small businesses cite costs and logistical challenges. Nadeau notes that small distributors are exempt from the handling fee. Right Proper Brewery owner Thor Cheston said he would need to sell $67,000 worth of beer to pay $2,000 into the program. “We make three cents on every dollar,” he said. “There’s no room for error.” A company distributing one million containers would pay between $2,000 and $5,000 annually.
Small shops fear losing customers to larger stores that can accept returns. “Why are my customers going to pack up their six packs of beer or bottles of wine, bring them to Safeway,” asked Charles Waldman, owner of Cordial Spirits, “and not buy their beverage alcohol at those locations?”
Elise Genderson, the Vice President of Schneider’s of Capitol Hill, said she is worried that the bill will limit selection of their smaller and local craft wineries as initial cost of compliance will force suppliers to evaluate whether selling in DC remains viable for them. Further, she said the store will be forced to increase prices, because margins are too small to eat the 10 cent deposit.
Business
Advocates counter that the bill will create jobs and revenue. Distributors’ fees could fund new staff to manage redemptions and local entrepreneurs could open bottle return facilities. “Collecting bottles and cans could become a revenue stream for low-income individuals or even schools and churches,” Nadeau said at the hearing.
Some business owners worry about having to accept dirty containers, but the bill allows retailers to refuse bottles that are soiled, broken or not sold in DC. Nadeau points to “reverse-vending” machines that scan and verify bottles before issuing cash or store credit, limiting employee involvement.
Opponents have cited alleged fraud in other states, but “there is no credible evidence” of that, testified Kirstie Pecci, Executive Director of Just Zero, a national nonprofit promoting zero waste policies. Each container’s UPC code can verify its origin.
Next Steps
The bill is still in committee, so there is plenty of time for it to be revised. Allen said the Council needs to address operational concerns but added that he was convinced the city needs to take action. Brenda Richardson, Coordinator of the Anacostia Parks and Community Collaborative, urged stronger equity measures. “In a city where pollution and other environmental hazards disproportionately affect the health and wellbeing of disfavored communities living east of the river, there is still more work to be done,” she said.
She suggested offering financial incentives for corner stores to serve as redemption sites, since grocery stores are scarce in some neighborhoods, particularly those east of the river.
At-Large Councilmember Robert White, Jr. said the environmental concerns are urgent. “What the argument can’t be is, do nothing,” White said.
