A new proposal before the Illinois House of Representatives would require that all glass, metal, and plastic beverage containers sold in the state have a deposit and refund value.
Ten states currently have such laws, and a study by the American Economic Review found that bottle deposits function as a tax on high-wage earners who do not typically return containers for deposit, while at the same time providing income for low-wage earners who harvest recyclables.
Another study has shown that deposit programs double recycling rates and reduce litter.
