Town Council members approved a proposal to use up to $30,000 in a recycling initiative involving nip (alcohol) bottle deposit funds, in an effort to clean up litter. New Milford Mayor Pete Bass said the state legislature passed a five cent deposit law on nip bottles with the funds to go to the towns to help clean up litter. Nip bottles are generally about 1.7 ounces and contain 50 milliliters, or one 1.5-ounce shot, of alcohol. New Milford received $14,000 in the first round of funds and Bass previously asked the town’s recycling committee advice on how to best utilize the money following the state’s guidelines.
At Monday’s Town Council meeting, Bass said this particular funding from nip bottles is a required deposit that’s non-refundable, and that this program is being used to help get rid of some of the plastics and garbage that line the town’s roadways and rivers. Councilman Paul Murphy mentioned at a previous meeting that he picked up 568 nip bottles on Aspetuck Road alone during the town’s last trash day.
Bass said New Milford Recycling Center owner Bob Hanna suggested starting the program in phases, where the first phase would focus on homeowners and offer them a coupon for $20. With every bulky trash item they bring to the New Milford Recycling Center, residents could get rid of their items for $20 less than they would typically be charged.