Bussin (definition)

Know what’s trending (other than the word “bussin”)? Using recycled materials in goods. From yoga pants, to deck chairs, to plastic bottles with minimum recycled content, brands are hopping on the “green” bandwagon to give the people what they want. With increases in demands for recycled plastic, bottle bills seem like a wonderful solution. Even the plastic industry, such as American Beverage, are “open to discussion on any kinds of systems that will get our bottles back,”. However, people within the recycling industry don’t think current curbside recycling can keep up with the times, and bottle bills create their own, streamlined system for processing plastic. So what’s the hold-up, and why was Hawaii the last state to implement a bottle bill, 16 years ago?

This article discusses some of the nuances and challenges involved with established bottle bills. Roadblocks to successful bottle bills include high operating costs, lower collection rates (you, often, are the one dropping off the bottles), a shrinking number of deposit centers and issues with funding. Advocates say there are solutions to these roadblocks. To name a few, expanding the kinds of bottles that can be returned for redemption (technology changes over time, thus changing types of plastic produced) and raising the redemption value to match inflation rates.  Once these systems are modernized and a system is in place for successful performance, bottle bills would meet current demands for recycled resin; however, steamrolling ahead and investing in a process that, historically, has faced challenges comes off as an irresponsible plan. Progress needs to be made in light of current challenges, so that new systems are shored up and successful.

What’s more, Representative Luria for Virginia 02 is championing a bill that would tax virgin plastic. This goes about a bottle bill in a different way. Essentially, her bill would implement a bottle bill unless single use bottles are made from recycled plastic. And that, my friends, is bussin.