SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): A coalition of over 300 business, civic, environmental, and youth organizations is urging Governor Kathy Hochul to modernize New York’s returnable container law, known as the Bottle Bill, in the upcoming state budget.
Advocates argue the update is long overdue, citing the state’s Solid Waste Management Plan and the Department of Environmental Conservation’s 2023 ten-year waste plan, which recommended expanding the law, increasing handling fees, and creating an interagency task force to reduce redemption fraud.
The coalition highlights potential financial benefits, including up to $100 million in new state revenue and savings of $108 million annually in litter cleanup and waste disposal costs.
Proposed legislation, including Senate Bill S.5684 and Assembly Bill A.6543, would expand covered containers to sports drinks, non-carbonated beverages, wine, and spirits, raise the deposit from five to ten cents, and increase the handling fee for redemption centers.
Supporters say the changes would reduce waste, divert billions of containers from landfills, support small businesses, and benefit low-income residents who rely on bottle collection.
The coalition has called on Governor Hochul to prioritize Bottle Bill modernization in her executive budget.
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