A law requiring returnable bottles and cans could be enacted legislatively in DC

bottle and can trash
Originally uploaded by www.elliebrown.com

A particular concern of Imgoph, a blogger from the Bloomingdale neighborhood, is the condition of the public spaces, particularly litter..

In an entry, one of the commenters made a point about the need for a returnables law, and I responded (slightly edited):

A bottle bill was attempted in 1988 through a citizen initiative and referendum. The anti forces made it into a racial issue and recruited the black churches, among other stakeholders, in their successful campaign to defeat the bill. The DC Environmental Network is still interested in this, but it would still be a tough fight, given the racial politics still very extant and visible in the city.

But I realized after writing this that...

Legally, DC City Council could enact such a law,without there having to be a referendum, but is still controlled by big(ger) business so it would be a struggle.

(Photo by Ellie Brown.)