BAN THE THROWAWAY BOTTLE & CAN!

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Today, however, there are only about 50 breweries left in the country! Why? Because most of the small, local operations could make it only so long as refillable bottles cut down their overhead and prevented larger outfits from barging into their territories. The story in the soft-drink industry is largely the same.

Which brings up the point behind Oregon's "certifiable" bottle. Since this standardized, state-authorized container has no distinctive shape or marking associated with any particular brand of beer or soda pop ... anyone can use it! Which means that once again—in Oregon at least—small operators have a plentiful supply of inexpensive bottles.

Naturally, the large bottlers hate the "certified" container . . . but so far they've had to live with it in at least one state. You can be sure, though, that if and when Congress finally gets around to passing a national deposit law, the "certified" bottle won't be included! The container lobby will extract at least this concession—and as many others as it can possibly get—as the price of passage.

HOW GOES IT ON CAPITOL HILL?

Slo-o-o-owly ... as usual. Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield first introduced national bottle legislation back in 1973 (a year after his state pioneered the reform) and his bill (S. 276) still languishes before the Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs. Although this august group held informational hearings last January—and bottle-bill advocates were pleased with the results—no action is likely to be taken this election year.

In the House prospects are even bleaker ... because Vermont Representative Jim Jeffords' bill (H.R. 936) is firmly stuck in the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Subcommittee on Transportation and Commerce. Now it just so happens that the chairman of this subcommittee—Representative Fred Rooney—hails from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania ... where steel i (and presumably the steel can) reigns supreme! So don't hold your breath for the Jeffords bill.

But take heart! Even though Congress is poking along on this issue so far, it's just a matter of time before it takes a deep breath, hitches up its collective drawers, and passes national deposit legislation. Fact is, the time is ripe for bottle bills. The reasons for passing them—to save energy and resources, create jobs, pacify consumers and environmentalists—are the right reasons (in the political sense) at this particular juncture in our history.

Consider: Politicians want to appear eager to champion energy conservation, but most of 'em don't dare cross swords with the black knight of the American "Camelot"... BIG OIL! A bottle bill, however, allows legislators to go to their constituents and say, "Look, I voted for a law that saves energy, creates jobs, reduces litter and solid waste, and lowers the price of beer and soft drinks!" . . . all this, without having to risk a politically dangerous confrontation with the energy lobby (which plays a whole lot rougher than the container gang).

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