3 Reasons New Hampshire Needs a Bottle Bill
Thanks to bottle bills, many New England states have increased recycling rates and now rank among the top states in the country. New Hampshire still lacks a bottle bill. Learn why that matters.
![Photo of an empty plastic bottle being tossed into a plastic bag. The image is taken from inside the plastic bag, and one can see the outline of a hand tossing the bottle. Behind, a bright sunset shines through the litter.](https://www.clf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Detail-New-Hampshire-Bottle-Bill-600x375.jpg)
Thanks to bottle bills, many New England states have increased recycling rates and now rank among the top states in the country. New Hampshire still lacks a bottle bill. Learn why that matters.
Trash in landfills contaminates soil and water. That’s because all landfill sites will leak sooner or later.
Organizing a trash cleanup will only make a tiny dent in all the plastic we toss, but it’s still a great opportunity to care for the environment, get some steps in, and connect with friends and neighbors. They also highlight the detrimental effects that plastic has on our planet! Here’s a guide to plan yours.
“Methane pollution is over 80 times more dangerous than carbon dioxide in driving the climate crisis,” said Nora Bosworth, Zero Waste attorney at CLF. “The main culprit of this pollution is decomposing food scraps in landfills, and this bill offers a logical solution to this problem. It’s time for Maine to catch up with the rest of New England and embrace a better solution for our food waste.”
“This is exactly the type of calamity that community members feared,” said CLF attorney Nora Bosworth. “Casella has a responsibility to ensure the health and safety of the community in all of its operations. The company has failed in that duty.”
In most states, bottle return programs don’t cover wine bottles. So, our options for recycling them are limited. That means they end up mixed with trash or littering our communities. But there’s a simple solution: expand bottle bills.
Regardless of how we dispose of it, plastic will not biodegrade. Here’s what that means for our communities and environment.
Britteny Jenkins, CLF’s Vice President for the Environmental Justice Program shares her journey and goals for our region. She will lead our transportation, climate justice, and zero waste efforts.
As the conversation around our clean energy future progresses, new fuels have entered the field that are purportedly “renewable” and “clean.” These fuels are often called “bioenergy” because they are produced from natural resources and waste. Policymakers are contending with what role these new fuels play in slowing climate change. CLF answers this question in… Continue reading Limited and Careful Use: The Role of Bioenergy in New England’s Clean Energy Future
On Halloween, U.S. consumers spend over $10 billion on decorations, plastic-wrapped candy, costumes, and more. Many of these items will eventually find their final resting place in landfills and incinerators. But fear not! Here are 5 tips to celebrate a Green Halloween without sacrificing your fun.