MID-STATE DISTRIBUTING, CO. v. City of Columbia

KENNEDY, Presiding Judge.

The issue in the present case is the validity of an ordinance of the City of Columbia which establishes a refund value of five cents each upon certain beverage containers sold in the City of Columbia, and requires the retailer to pay the same amount upon receipt of the containers. Manufacturers and distributors in their turn must pay the refund value for the containers. The ordinance contemplates, but does not require, the collection of a five-cent deposit from the consumer upon each container, which is refunded upon return of the container. The declared purpose of…