To meet the American demand for recycled bottles, cans, and other materials, companies in the U.S. are importing refuse from different countries. 鈥淲e estimate, because of the lack of an effective recycling program, Texas missed out on at least $372 million in lost scrap value [in 2021],鈥� said Raymond Robertson, director of the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy at Texas A&M University. 鈥淎s a result, companies in Texas are actually paying China and Canada and Mexico to import their trash.鈥�
Texas A&M researchers have developed a plan to help reduce the amount of imported trash and increase recycling. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very simple system. When you go to the store and buy potentially recyclable containers, you would pay a slightly extra amount, maybe 5 or 10 cents, you would take the products home, drink them, and bring the bottles back to, probably, the store and you would get that money back,鈥� he explained.
The Deposit Refund System (DRS) is already in place in 10 US states, as well as portions of Europe. HB 2048, introduced in the 89th Texas Legislature, would include an incentive program for recyclables.