D.C.’s Fight for a Bottle Bill
How the 3RC for D.C. Coalition Is Leading the Way
Washington, D.C. is drowning in beverage container waste. From the banks of Oxon Run to neighborhoods across all eight wards, plastic bottles litter our public spaces and waterways. But a powerful grassroots movement is fighting back using strategy, determination, and collaboration. 3RC for D.C., the Return, Refund, Recycle Coalition, the driving force behind the District’s proposed Bottle Bill: The Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Amendment Act of 2025 (B26-0058). 3RC for D.C., which stands for the Return, Refund and Recycle Coalition for D.C., is leading a campaign for a strong, equitable beverage container deposit-return law in the District. The District is overrun by beverage container litter. Bottle Bills are a proven solution to this type of pollution. 3RC for D.C. is a proud member of the Choose Clean Water Coalition’s D.C. Workgroup with more than 20 organizations in support of this major bill!
How a bottle bill works
A People-Powered Campaign for Cleaner Communities
The idea is simple: put a 10-cent refundable deposit on beverage containers to incentivize recycling. When consumers return the bottle or can, they get their dime back. It’s a model that has worked in ten U.S. states, which altogether account for more than 50% of all bottles recycled nationally, despite comprising just 27% of the population. A D.C. bottle bill could triple our recycling rates and cut litter by up to 84%, also protecting residents from the health harms of plastic pollution.
This about more than just litter, it’s also about health justice. Beyond litter reduction, this initiative addresses broader environmental health concerns. Washington, D.C. is grappling with significant environmental challenges, notably the pervasive presence of microplastics and PFAS ("forever chemicals") in its waterways. These pollutants threaten both ecological integrity and public health. PFAS contamination is a pressing issue. The synthetic chemicals, used in various industrial and consumer products, have been found in D.C.'s water bodies where residents are still practicing subsistence fishing. For instance, groundwater near the Anacostia River has shown PFAS concentrations totaling 58,764 parts per trillion. PFAS are persistent in the environment and have been linked to adverse health effects, including cancer and liver damage. A study by American University found concentrations of microplastics as high as 127 particles per liter in the Anacostia River's Nash Run tributary. These particles pose risks to aquatic life and potentially to human health.
Grassroots Power
Unlike past efforts that pursued a ballot initiative, the 3RC for D.C. Coalition made a strategic decision to build power through the Council. And that’s exactly what they’ve done. Over nearly two years of tireless organizing, the coalition has:
• Met with every D.C. Council office
• Secured the support of Councilmember Charles Allen, Chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment
• Persuaded Councilmember Brianne Nadeau to introduce and champion the bill
• Helped secure 11 co-introducers out of the 13 members of Council (12 currently active)
• Delivered literature and messages to Council offices more than a dozen times
• Held creative events, like the “burrito breakfast briefing,” to engage staff members
• Integrated the bottle bill into over 23 unrelated Council meetings
• Testified at hearings and mobilized community support across ANCs, business leaders, and faith communities
3RC for DC Coalition members Damian Bascom, Jamoni Overby and Susan Schorr with "Spirit of the Anacostia" sculpture at bill introduction January 2025
Not Just Advocacy—Leadership in Action
When the bill was introduced in January 2025, the coalition stood side by side with Councilmembers at a media event celebrating the legislation. Now, the bill is with the Committee on Business and Economic Development. Later this summer it, will head to the Committee on Transportation and the Environment for a hearing expected in the fall.
And the support is broad: 14 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs)have passed resolutions supporting the bill. Organizations like Ward 8 Woods Conservancy have documented plastic pollution. One example, the piles of bottles outside the Congress Heights Metro Station, underscores the need for action.
Environmental Progress That Pays for Itself
Critically, this is not a budget buster. The bill is designed to avoid burdening D.C. taxpayers, with beverage companies funding the logistics, not residents. Small retailers, bars, and restaurants are exempt from container redemption responsibilities unless they opt in (and get a handling fee if they do). Additionally, D.C.’s own brewers and small beverage producers are shielded from new costs. That’s a win for both the environment and the local economy.
Let’s show the rest of the country what environmental justice and grassroots power can achieve. Thanks to the leadership of the D.C. Council and the tireless work of the 3RC for D.C. Coalition, real change is within reach. By addressing the intersection of health and environmental challenges through a comprehensive bottle bill, D.C. has the opportunity to enhance environmental health, protect public well-being and public spaces, and set a precedent for sustainable urban living as we push for a zero waste D.C.
Oxon Run in Ward 8 tributary to the Potomac river. Credit: Scott Kratz, Director, 11th Street Bridge Park
What You Can Do
This movement needs you. Whether you're a resident, business owner, or part of a community organization, here’s how to help:
• Sign up for action alerts: 3rcfordc.org/campaign
• Distribute flyers, testify at hearings, or host a community discussion
• Engage with your ANC or Councilmember to express support.
• Distribute informational materials and encourage discussions within your community.
• Testify at upcoming hearings to share your perspective using our Outreach Toolkit. This toolkit includes a sign up link as well as messages you can send by email, text and social media in our Testimony Guide.
• Donate to support advocacy efforts: sc.org/dcbottlebill
For more information or support in taking any of these actions, visit www.3rcfordc.org or contact Susan Schorr (susanschorr0@gmail.com) and Chris Weiss (cweiss@dcenvironmentalnetwork.org).
