COLUMBUS, Ohio – A proposal to create a refundable deposit on glass, metal, plastic and other containers in Ohio has cleared an initial hurdle.
Attorney General Mike DeWine said Wednesday that supporters of the “Bottle Bill for Ohio” had enough valid signatures and met other requirements to continue their push for the constitutional amendment.
The measure would direct the Legislature to create a 5- to 10-cent refundable deposit on certain containers and designate locations where they could be returned for refunds. It also outlines rules for businesses.
Backers had to resubmit the proposal after failing to meet requirements in March.
In a letter to Secretary of State Jon Husted Wednesday, DeWine said the supporters had gathered the necessary 1,000 valid signatures from registered Ohio voters and that the submission was a “fair and truthful” summary of the proposed amendment.
The Ohio Ballot Board must now determine if the amendment contains a single issue or multiple issues before supporters can begin gathering the necessary signatures to put it before voters.
Backers must then collect signatures for each issue from registered voters in each of 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties, equal to five percent of the total vote cast in the county for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election. Total signatures collected statewide must also equal 10 percent of the total vote cast for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election.