The State Government subcommittee of House State and Local Government rolled the Tennessee Beverage Container Recycling Act (HB3429/SB3469) until next week.

The subcommittee did, however, hear a short video presentation on the bill, and will discuss it and vote next week. The presentation featured several business and organizations that could benefit from increased recycling.

One was Marglen Industries in Rome GA near Dalton, which is famous for carpet manufacturing. The company recycles PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles into fiber and resin. The resin can be used to make new plastic bottles, and the fiber can be used for textiles such as carpet.

Their biggest problem is a shortage of materials. There is a local curbside recycling program in Rome where they are located, but it only provides one trailer load of materials per month - less than 1% of their supply. They buy from Canada and Central and South America, but transportation adds considerably to the raw materials cost. The company has put off expansion five times because of shortages.

A spokeman said that states with bottle bills have a 60% to 90% rate of recycling, v. 10% to 25% for states that don't. They would provide a ready market for recycled plastic bottles from Tennessee.

PREVIOUSLY: We don't need no stinkin' bottle bill