ALBANY, N.Y. — Proponents of New York’s “Bigger Better Bottle Bill” are pushing for passage as the legislative session ends this week.
About the bill
The bill would double the bottle deposit and expand the law to cover wine, liquor and non-carbonated drinks. The New York Public Interest Research Group has been trying to expand the bottle bill for years.
Blair Horner, senior policy advisor for the New York Public Interest Research Group, said he was involved when the original bottle bill passed in 1982.
“I was actually involved in 1982 when the bill passed into law originally, the original bottle bill. And the idea was to remove from our streets litter from beverage containers,” Horner said.
The current law requires a 5-cent deposit on sodas, water, beer and wine coolers to encourage people to return the can or bottle to get their deposit back.
“A lot has happened since 1982. I’m older and there are new beverage container products all over the market,” Horner said.
What are the current laws?
Under current law, Gatorade is not covered because it was just a niche sports drink in the early 1980s, but Vitamin Water is covered.
The only difference between these two energy drinks is that one is carbonated, so a deposit is required for it and not the other.
Coke is now making an alcoholic version, spiking it with whisky. But under current law, the alcoholic version does not require a deposit.
The new law would expand the deposit to cover nearly all beverage containers, including alcoholic cocktails and liquor. It would also double the deposit from a nickel to ten cents.
What do people think about the bill?
Marella Albanese, who supports the bottle bill, was asked if it gave her pause that a 12-pack deposit would increase from 60 cents to $1.20.
“No I don’t think so cause then you’d get it back,” Albanese said.
Leaders of the beverage industry see the issue differently. The group New Yorkers for Better Recycling, a coalition of beverage companies and other business groups, sent a statement saying the following:
“New Yorkers for Better Recycling supports reforms that increase redemption rates, reduce fraud and strengthen New York’s recycling system. The bottle bill expansion, as proposed, would do none of those things. Instead, it would expand an already broken system while increasing costs for families, workers and local businesses. That’s why we support legislation sponsored by State Senator Chris Ryan and Assemblymember Amanda Septimo to modernize the redemption system, improve recycling outcomes, combat fraud, keep grocery costs down and support independent redemption centers.”
They support a bipartisan bill aimed at streamlining recycling operations to help keep redemption centers open. But their bill would not increase the deposit or expand the drinks required for deposit.
Heavy lobbying is happening in Albany right now as the legislative session ends this week. We’ll keep you updated on what happens.
Consumer Alert: NY lawmakers could double the bottle deposit and expand which drinks are covered under state law WHEC.com.
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