The operator of a California recycling company told West Virginia lawmakers Tuesday that you can be "green" and still be profitable.  NexCycle President John Ferrari urged the state legislature to pass a "bottle bill" that requires a refundable deposit of 10 cents on beer, soft drink and other beverage containers.

Ferrari said the deposit encourages consumers to return the containers to get their money back. That, he says, is good for the environment, but also creates jobs through collection and recycling.

West Virginia uses over one billion containers a year, most of which end up in landfills or as trash along highways.  Supporters of the bottle bill say the legislation provides incentives for recycling centers and would create hundreds of new jobs.

However, retailers and grocers are concerned.  Michael Graney of the Oil Marketers and Grocers Association of West Virginia says a 10 cent deposit would drive consumers in border communities across state lines to buy their groceries. 

"What we're very concerned about is placing an additional tax on products that we sell making it uncompetitive on the border," said Graney.

But Ferrari said with the price of gas consumers would be likely to shop closer to home even with the 10 cent deposit as long as they had recycling center close by.