NewsLibrary A vehicle on Ky. 40 sped by roadside trash in Spicy Gap, Johnson County. Bottle bill supporters say such bills greatly reduce roadside litter. Controlling litter leads to a container controversy Cleaning up state with a bottle bill not without costs By Bill Estep, Herald-Leader Staff Writer Bottle bills get results. Put a deposit on disposable drink containers, and roads, streams and lakes get cleaner.
Less garbage goes into landfills.
In the 10 states with refundable deposits on aluminum, plastic and glass drink containers, recycling rates for cans and bottles are higher than in other states. And in some of those places, the amount of roadside bottle litter dropped more than 70 percent after deposit laws were adopted. But as the 2000 General Assembly prepares to again take on litter legislation, support will come from far higher up the political food chain, including Gov. Paul Patton and some legislative heavyweights. If you're throwing garbage in an illegal dump in Kentucky, you might have an audience. While state lawmakers next month will begin considering proposals, including a deposit on disposable drink containers, to reduce Kentucky's waste stream, there's already a program in place to catch those who are disposing of trash illegally.