It’s Time to Hold Beverage Giants Accountable

The beverage industry helped create the plastic waste crisis—and now it’s trying to block the fix.

As companies shifted from refillable bottles to single-use plastic, the consequences became impossible to ignore: more litter in our communities, rising microplastics in our bodies, and higher waste costs for taxpayers.

Bottle bills work. Placing a small 5¢ or 10¢ refundable deposit on bottles and cans dramatically reduces litter and increases recycling. Ten U.S. states have proven it. They’re popular, effective, and ready to scale.

So why haven’t other states followed suit?

Because the American Beverage Association (ABA) and major beverage companies have spent decades lobbying to block, weaken, or delay these laws—while promoting misleading greenwashing campaigns like “Every Bottle Back” to appear supportive without backing real accountability.

Enough is enough.