It’s that time of year again - the Maryland Legislative session is underway and ends in April. It's not too late to get involved!

IPC and our supporters have been busy in the halls of the MD Capitol, advocating for legislation that will have a lasting, positive impact on the Chesapeake Bay and communities within the watershed.

This year we are focused primarily on the Maryland Bottle Bill (HB0232 and SB0346) which, if passed, would require that a small deposit be added to the purchase of beverage containers that would be refunded to customers when the containers are returned for recycling. Ten U.S. states, covering about 90 million people, already have longstanding, successful beverage container deposit programs, and we know that these programs can result in significant reductions in litter and higher recycling rates. A recent public opinion poll conducted by the MD Sierra Club showed that 91% of Marylanders support having a Bottle Bill passed. We want Maryland to be the 11th state to join in this effort!

Right now, an estimated 5.5 billion beverage bottles are purchased in Maryland each year, but only a quarter are recycled. That means billions of plastic, glass, and metal containers end up in landfills, incinerators, or our waterways—including in the belly of Baltimore’s own Mr. Trash Wheel, which regularly collects enormous amounts of discarded bottles from the harbor. A refundable bottle deposit system could increase recycling rates to as much as 75%, helping to clean up our streets and waterways.

IPC volunteers have been active and several folks participated in our joint IPC-Maryland Catholics for our Common Home (MCCH) Lobby Night in February, and met with more than 40 lawmakers. They also rallied in Annapolis alongside dozens of supporters calling for action on the Bottle Bill. Watch the news coverage to see the rally, hear from bill supporters like Sen. Benjamin Brooks and Chris Williams of the Anacostia Watershed Society, and learn why passing this bill is "not just a health imperative, but a moral imperative."

Looking for something to do? Find your elected officials using the easy to use website here and call or email them to let them know you want a Maryland Bottle Bill this year.

To learn more about the Bottle Bill download the Bottle Bill Fact Sheet here