I am writing to you to highlight the extensive problem of litter and plastic pollution on the Eastern Shore and to offer a solution. Of the 5.5 billion beverage containers (metal, glass and plastic) sold each year in Maryland, more than 4 billion are left in the environment, along roads, in waterways, on our beaches. Plastic beverage containers break up into smaller pieces that pose health risks to marine life and land animals, as well as humans.
The passage of the Maryland bottle bill (House Bill 232, Senate Bill 364), which is now before the Maryland General Assembly, would go a long way toward decreasing the littering of these beverage containers. A small deposit would be added to the price of beverages and would be refunded when the containers are returned. Think of it as purchasing the beverage and renting the containers. Bottle bills already exist in 10 states and have proven to be highly effective. When containers can be redeemed for cash, fewer are littered or likely to remain littered.
We need Maryland residents to help get this bill passed into law by contacting their state senators, state delegates and Gov. Wes Moore, and requesting their support. Find your representatives using this link and then click on “Lookup”: mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/members/district.
Please voice your support now. Each year that passage of this bill is delayed, another 4 billion beverage containers will be left to spoil our otherwise beautiful Maryland environment.
Cindy Dillon
Zero-waste lead, Lower Eastern Shore Group of Sierra Club’s Maryland chapter
Ocean Pines, Maryland
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
