Coca-Cola Said to Be Easing Its Opposition Toward Bottle Bills

Coca-Cola Co. says it is not getting soft on bottle bills, despite an indication of that from an environmental group report.

As You Sow, a nonprofit organization calling for corporate environmental and social responsibility, said in its 2011 report on beverage container recycling that Coke, “a historical opponent of container deposit legislation, indicated it is now neutral on a ‘voluntary’ container deposit system administered by associated industries.”

But a spokeswoman for Coke clarified its stance in an e-mail response. “Coca-Cola’s position regarding container deposit legislation has not changed; we oppose forced deposit legislation. We actively support initiatives to get consumers to recycle more and waste less.”

Coke says recycling programs like curbside recycling collection are better means to achieve that goal.