ACTION ALERT:
THE D.C. BOTTLE BILL IS THE WRONG SOLUTION

Let’s work together to make sure changes in the D.C.’s recycling program do not harm our city’s residents and small businesses with costly new burdens.

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Dear [Lawmaker],

I’m writing to urge you to reject the Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Amendment Act of 2025, or the “D.C. Bottle Bill.” This proposal would raise costs for hardworking families and small businesses who are already struggling to afford their grocery bills and keep up with the high cost of living in the District. This price increase would disproportionately hurt hardworking families already struggling to make ends meet. It would make it harder for low-income residents and seniors who may not have access to reliable transportation to redeem their bottles and cans, and therefore only cost them more. Small businesses would be burdened with the cost of running the program and saddled with the expense of taking in and storing bags of bottles and cans. These businesses are important to our neighborhoods and the jobs they provide are critical to family incomes. In addition to the added costs, local stores could lose business to Virginia and Maryland, which do not add deposits to containers. This risks jobs and the vitality of our small business community. We all want to protect our environment and clean up our city. But we need to keep the District’s recycling system convenient and not put its costs on the backs of hardworking families and local businesses who cannot afford more expenses. I ask that you stand with the families and businesses that make this city strong. We urge you to OPPOSE the D.C. Bottle Bill. Let’s find a better solution to protect our city and our environment.

Sincerely,
______

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D.C. residents are struggling to afford rising grocery prices and the high cost of living. Small businesses have been hit hard by inflation and decreased customer traffic downtown following the pandemic. Now, the D.C. Council has proposed a bottle bill that would increase prices of nearly all beverages, costing families more at the grocery store and putting small businesses in jeopardy.

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D.C. IS ALREADY TOO EXPENSIVE

A 24-pack of water would cost consumers an extra $2.40 under the new Bottle Bill. A 12-pack of iced tea or beer would cost an extra $1.20.

Families

This price increase would disproportionately hurt working families and low-income residents least capable of paying it. The proposal includes automatic annual increases to the deposit, putting even more financial pressure on people struggling to afford increased prices on their groceries.

D.C. Taxpayers

Millions of empty containers from surrounding states—none of which have bottle/can deposit programs—could be redeemed in D.C., even though no deposit was ever paid. This would cost millions in fraudulent refunds and fees paid, hurting small businesses and the city.

It’s important that we take steps to improve recycling and protect our environment. But this cannot come on the backs of hardworking families and local businesses who are already struggling to afford living and working in the District.

Small Businesses

Small businesses have been hit hard by inflation and decreased customer traffic that followed the pandemic. They would be forced to absorb some of the costs of this program and could lose sales to Virginia and Maryland, which do not add deposits to their beverages. This loss is sales cuts into the already tight profit margins. That risks employee jobs and job hours.

We Are the Alliance for an Affordable D.C.

The Alliance for an Affordable D.C. is a group of 550+ local residents, businesses and community organizations committed to supporting and protecting working families, neighborhood businesses and jobs in the District.

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From Afford DC

ACTION ALERT:
THE D.C. BOTTLE BILL IS THE WRONG SOLUTION

TAKE ACTION

D.C. IS ALREADY TOO EXPENSIVE

Families

D.C. Taxpayers

Small Businesses

We Are the Alliance for an Affordable D.C.

JOIN OUR COALITION

IN THE NEWS

Trade Association Letter Letter to D.C. Tax Revision Commission

Alliance Letter to D.C. Tax Revision Commission

Alliance for An Affordable DC Election Statement

ACTION ALERT: THE D.C. BOTTLE BILL IS THE WRONG SOLUTION

TAKE ACTION

D.C. IS ALREADY TOO EXPENSIVE

Families

D.C. Taxpayers

Small Businesses

We Are the Alliance for an Affordable D.C.

JOIN OUR COALITION

IN THE NEWS

Trade Association Letter Letter to D.C. Tax Revision Commission

Alliance Letter to D.C. Tax Revision Commission

Alliance for An Affordable DC Election Statement

ACTION ALERT:
THE D.C. BOTTLE BILL IS THE WRONG SOLUTION