Chris's Sharebook 

U.S. citizens are consuming more and more beverages on the go, but city streets and public places often don't offer recycling bins. For the sake of convenience, many choose to discard their empty bottles and cans in the nearest trashcan rather than holding onto them to recycle later.

Despite earnest efforts to go green in recent years, U.S. citizens are only recycling 45% of cans today. This is down 20 percent from 1992's peak recycling rate of 65%. In general, recycling rates are higher in the 10 U.S. states and countries such as Brazil which have "bottle bills" -- mandatory 2.5 to 10 cent deposits on cans and bottles.

"Bottle bills" are not taxes; they are deposits that people get back after returning their empty bottles and cans. Paying a small deposit on recyclables will encourage consumers to hold onto and recycle empty containers rather than tossing them in the first available trash can.

Please sign the petition to stop the waste and create "bottle bills" in more states.