I disagree, through, with his opinion that it would be impractical to require a deposit on soft drink and beer cans because less than 5 percent of trash falls within this category.
I have picked up litter for many years. At least one-half of what I pick up is aluminum cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles. I have read that some other states have reduced highway litter significantly by requiring a deposit on some or all of these containers.
Efforts to enact a required deposit law in our General Assembly have failed; the "bottle bills" have been "bottled up" in committee. The powerful legislative leadership assign proposed bills to a specific committee or subcommittee. It can either languish there, die there or survive to come up for a floor vote. The aforesaid leadership also appoints the members of the various committees. By virtue of their position to influence, if not control, the fate of proposed legislation, they receive a disproportionate amount of contributions from special interests. These "discretionary funds" are doled out to members (team players) to help pay for their re-election expenses.
It is shameful that the pristine beauty of our roadways, byways, and waterways has been sacrificed, thus far, at the altar of profit and politics. And apparently it is not likely to change because, as Mr. Barnes says, "the bottom line is that enough people still simply don't care ... ."
Ken Ellis
Fremont