Senator Thompson Encouraged By Latest Bigger Better Bottle Bill Ruling. "Bill adds water bottles to increase recycling."

For Immediate Release
Contact: Heather Zeisz | Zeisz@senate.state.ny.us | 716.854.8705

Albany , NY - For the last four years, representatives of New York’s environmental groups, businesses, local governments and community based organizations have lobbied for a “Bigger Better Bottle Bill”.   Each year since 2005, the State Assembly would pass such a bill only to see it die in the senate.   This year, under the leadership of Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Chair, Antoine M. Thompson (D-Parts of Erie & Niagara Counties), the NY Senate successfully passed the bill.   Bottle deposits on water should commence by October 22, 2009.

“The bottle bill is by far New York’s most effective recycling and litter prevention program,” stated Senator Thompson.   “I am extremely pleased to see that such a historic bill has become law.”

The original bottle bill that was passed in 1982 provided a 5 cent deposit on carbonated beverages like beer and soda.   The new and improved “Bigger Better Bottle Bill” will extend the deposit to include water bottles.  

Besides the benefits to the environment and increasing State revenue, there will be an approximate increase of 900 additional employment positions in existing redemption centers and will potentially provide hundreds of added jobs and economic development when the State is experiencing an unprecedented rate of unemployment.

 

 

 

 

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