Columbia has lost a distinction. Voters there have repealed the five cent beverage container desposit ordinance, the only such municipal ordinance in the country.Many Columbia grocery store owners supported repeal, saying compliance with the deposit ordinance cost store owners$1.6-Million a year, which they passed on to their customers. The vote wasn’t close. 58-percent of the voters agreed to repeal the deposit ordinance. Supporters of the repeal say they will work to promote alternative recycling programs.
