Ohio Beverage Container Deposit and Pull-Tab Ban Initiative (1979)

Ohio Beverage Container Deposit and Pull-Tab Ban Initiative
Election date November 6, 1979
Topic Business regulations and Environment
Status Defeated
Type Indirect initiated state statute	Origin Citizens

Ohio Beverage Container Deposit and Pull-Tab Ban Initiative was on the ballot as an indirect initiated state statute in Ohio on November 6, 1979. It was defeated.

A “yes” vote supported this ballot initiative to: require a minimum $0.10 refundable deposit on glass, metal, and plastic soft drink, beer, and malt beverage containers sold for off-premises consumption; require retailers to accept and refund deposits for returned containers of brands, sizes, and designs they sell, while requiring bottlers and distributors to reimburse retailers for accepted returns; and ban the sale of beverages in metal cans with detachable pull-tabs.

A "no" vote opposed requiring a $0.10 refundable deposit on beverage containers, mandating retailers and distributors to accept and refund marked returns, and banning the sale of metal cans with detachable pull-tabs.

Election results

Ohio Beverage Container Deposit and Pull-Tab Ban Initiative
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		768,898	27.57%
No		2,019,834	72.43%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Beverage Container Deposit and Pull-Tab Ban Initiative was as follows:

“

To amend section 913.99 and 4301.99 and to enact section 913.241 and 4301.031 of the Revised Code This proposed law would:  Require at least a $.10 refundable deposit on all glass, metal or plastic soft drink, beer and malt beverage containers sold in Ohio for off-premises consumption. The refund value and the word Ohio would have to be clearly marked on each container. Require retailers to accept returned containers marked "Ohio" of the design, size and brand sold by them and refund the customer's deposit. Beverage bottlers or distributors would have to accept the returned containers bottled or distributed by them and reimburse the retailer.  Prohibit the sale of beverages in metal cans that have detachable pull-tabs. Violators of this law could be fined up to $750 or imprisoned for up to 90 days or both. If passed, this law would take effect December 6, 1981. Shall the proposed law be adopted?

”

Path to the ballot

See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures in Ohio

An indirect initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are nine (9) states that allow citizens to initiate indirect state statutes.

While a direct initiative is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiative is first presented to the state legislature. Legislators have a certain number of days, depending on the state, to adopt the initiative into law. Should legislators take no action or reject the initiative, the initiative is put on the ballot for voters to decide.

In Ohio, initiated state statutes begin as indirect initiatives, with campaigns needing to collect signatures equal to 3 percent of the votes cast for governor to place their proposal before the Ohio State Legislature. If the legislature fails to enact the proposed legislation, additional signatures equaling another 3 percent of the gubernatorial vote must be collected in order to place the measure the ballot as a direct initiative. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

See also

1979 Measures

• 1979 Measures
• Business regulations on the ballot
• Environment on the ballot
• 1979 legislative sessions

Ohio

• Ohio ballot measures
• Ohio ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Youngstown Vindicator, "14 Mahoning Townships to Elect Trustees, School Board Members," November 4, 1979