South Carolina state legislators voted Wednesday against a plan for night spots and eateries to recycle, saying they were uncomfortable requiring burdensome and unnecessary rules on businesses. The House Agriculture Subcommittee vote severely damages chances the legislation will pass after two years of discussion.

Boosters of the bill said it would increase recycling across South Carolina, but hospitality industry representatives expressed fear that a recycling law would hurt bars and restaurants.

“We are against this 100 percent,” said Steve Carroll, president of the 400-member Charleston Restaurant Association. “We have restaurants struggling every day. And the last thing we need when people are in survival mode is more government regulation.”