Local News in Brief : Wine Cooler Deposit Bill

A Los Angeles City Council committee directed the city attorney Friday to prepare an ordinance establishing a 5-cent deposit on bottles of wine coolers, which are exempted from the state’s new recycling law.

“These bottles use the same natural resources as other glass containers and there is no resource or conservation reason why there should be any distinction,” Councilwoman Ruth Galanter said.

The council’s Public Health Committee voted to have the city attorney prepare the proposed ordinance, which must eventually be approved by the full council.

The politically powerful wine industry managed to get wine coolers exempted from the state’s recycling law, which went into effect Oct. 1.

The law requires retailers to give the state 1 cent for each beer or soft drink container offered for sale, and consumers can redeem the bottles and cans for at least a penny by turning them in to recycling centers throughout California.