A bill requiring certain retail food establishments to have recycling bins on the premises has been referred by the state House back to the Environment Committee.  Today is the final day of the General Assembly session, so it's unlikely this bill will become a law. 

Brookfield Representative Stephen Harding was skeptical that this would be a savings for businesses.  He says savings aren't generally found for businesses through government mandates.  He notes that if it's a savings, businesses are going to do it themselves.

Bill sponsor Representative James Albis says the cost to recycle is cheaper than the cost to throw away.

The goal was to increase recycling of bottled and canned beverages, increase the overall waste diversion in the state and decrease the cost of waste management for towns. 

There is a cost to municipalities that experience increased tipping fees as a result of the expanded recycling program under the amendment's provisions. The cost will vary based on the volume of new items municipalities must recycle. But it was anticipated that the cost to municipalities will be at least partially offset by revenue deposited into the newly established tipping fee subaccount and used to reimburse municipalities for these costs.