Proposed bottle deposit bill appears dead on arrival

CARSON CITY — An effort by Las Vegas Assemblyman James Ohrenschall to levy a 5 cent deposit on glass, plastic and metal beverage containers seems to have been derailed again.

Las Vegas has a poor recycling record and litter has been reduced in ten states that have similar bottle bills, said Ohrenschall, the Democratic chairman of a committee to study a deposit and refund on recycled products.

But other committee members were skeptical of the program.

“A mandatory deposit program is not sensible,” said Assemblyman Peter Livermore, R-Carson City. He said it would be more costly for merchants and is another example of government overregulation.

Sen. Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, said, “I’m not sure we’re ready for a bottle bill in the next session.”

He said recycling efforts should be pushed in schools and public buildings to collect plastic water bottles and soft drink containers.

Ohrenschall said there is a lot of merit to the bottle bill, but “I don’t sense support for it.” He was the only committee member who spoke in favor of it.

Ohrenschall introduced a similar bill at the 2011 Legislature.

The proposed bill would have the consumer pay an extra 5 cents on drinks such as beer, bottled water, bottled or canned tea and canned energy drinks. It would not be imposed on wine or milk.

The consumer would be able to return the empty container and get a nickel refund.

A spokeswoman for the Nevada Retail Association told the committee the plan would result in increased costs for businesses, such as retooling the cash register, retraining employees and collecting the containers.