Dive summary:

• Prices for a can or bottle of soda or beer might go up by five cents in Maryland this year but customers have the ability to get their money back when they recycle the empty container.
• Right now only 22% of the 4 billion beverage containers are recycled, in the 10 states where there is a financial incentive to recycle the rates jump up to around 76%.
• If the bill passes, Maryland could make up to $200 million annually by the added recycling.

From the article:

Right now when Marylander’s recycle cans and bottles, there is no monetary reward.

But there is the knowledge that what’s recycled isn’t going out with the trash into landfills–or worse, back under our noses as litter, much of it floating into the harbor and bay.

But if you could get a nickel back for each of those containers, after first making a nickel deposit, you’d get money back. ...