Beverage container waste in the U.S. increased more than 50 percent between 1992 and 2000, with the exception of bottle bill states. Even in deposit states, waste is increasing due to newer types of beverages not covered by most current state laws (such as bottled water, juices, teas and sports drinks), the growing role of single-serving plastic bottles, and the reduced effectiveness of the nickel deposit due to inflation. In the last several years, there has been renewed interest at the state and federal level in bottle bill laws. Shareholder resolutions on beverage container recycling targeting The Coca-Cola Company (Atlanta) and PepsiCo, Inc. (Purchase, New York), Businesses and Environmentalists Allied for Recycling and the new version of a bottle bill introduced last year by Senator James Jeffords (I-Vt.) all have shared a common objective of doubling the national recycling rate to 80 percent.
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