FMI Urges DC Council to Focus on Strengthening Existing Recycling System

Arlington, VA - Today, FMI - The Food Industry Association Director, State and Local Government Relations Mike Green offered the following statement on the introduction of legislation in the Council of the District of Columbia that would require bottle collection at food retail establishments within the city.

"FMI - The Food Industry Association supports the goal of strengthening the District's recycling system, but this proposal would create the unnecessary and unintended consequence of increasing costs for consumers and retailers committed to feeding families.

"Food retailers chase pennies every day and operate on a 1.6% profit margin. Our members already face significant financial challenges due to excessive credit card swipe fees, anticompetitive pharmacy benefits manager tactics, and many other operational expenses.

"This proposal ignores these realities and would further increase costs and pose major logistical challenges for local businesses that are critical to the DC economy. Instead of making it harder for consumers to afford household goods and more difficult for our members to support their communities with healthy and affordable food and good paying jobs, the DC Council should take proven steps to improve the city's existing programs."