CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Bill Would Expand State’s ‘Bottle Bill’

Legislation that would expand California’s “bottle bill” to cover refunds on all beverage containers was introduced in the Legislature by two Southern California lawmakers. Under measures proposed by Assemblyman Burt Margolin (D-Los Angeles) and Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara), containers such as wine bottles, milk cartons and juice jars also could be returned at recycling centers throughout the state. Margolin, who authored the original penny-per-container recycling measure that became effective three years ago, said expansion of the refund program is necessary to meet California’s “waste crisis.” Last year, Hart won passage of a law raising the redemption value on large aluminum, glass and plastic containers to 5 cents each.