News
Counties Urge Review of Governor's Proposed Bottle Bill Expansion
- By: NYSAC
- On: 02/21/2019 20:21:12
- In: Press Releases
A Better Solution: Add a Deposit to More Glass Containers
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Today, counties across the state are urging Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature to make modifications to the Governor's proposed expansion of the Returnable Container Act ("Bottle Bill"), which would add a deposit to sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit and vegetable beverages, and ready-to-drink coffees and teas.
While this proposal is well-intentioned, it harms recycling programs that are already being threatened by global recycling market volatility. In 2017 and 2018, China implemented policy changes that resulted in a 90% reduction in the value of paper and a 63% loss in value of the traditional recycling stream.
The Governor's proposal would place an undue burden on municipal recyclers by removing as much as 50% of valuable plastic and aluminum containers from the recycling stream. This would result in an additional loss of revenue for local solid waste programs. The NYS Association of Counties urges the Governor and State Legislature to modify the Governor's expansion of the Bottle Bill to include only glass containers.
"Solid waste entities have put forth a lot of time, effort, and money to carry out state and local recycling initiatives," said Stephen McElwain, President of the New York State Association for Solid Waste Management (NYSASWM). "We oppose the Governor's proposal to take value out of the curbside bin at a time when global market changes have made it difficult for local entities to continue providing these environmentally-beneficial programs."
A Better Solution: Add a Deposit to More Glass Containers
Instead of adding non-alcoholic beverage containers to the Bottle Bill, counties urge the State to add a deposit to additional glass beverage containers, including wine and liquor bottles, hard cider bottles, and non-alcoholic glass beverage containers. Glass causes problems in the municipal recycling stream because it breaks and contaminates other recyclables. Placing a deposit on these containers would increase glass recycling, reduce municipal recycling costs, and reduce glass contamination in the curbside bin.
Andrew Radin, Director of Waste Reduction and Recycling for Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA), explained, "Recycling glass with the proven bottle deposit program is the best way to ensure glass is clean enough to become bottles again. OCRRA urges the Legislature and Governor to include wine, liquor, and hard cider in the NYS Bottle Bill this session. More glass redeemed for deposits increases cleaner recycling and provides much needed relief for local recycling programs."
Stephen Acquario, NYSAC Executive Director, states, "It is estimated that extending the Bottle Bill to include wine and liquor bottles would divert over 150,000 tons of glass to the deposit system. This revenue could be used to bring recycling infrastructure up to modern standards and capabilities, as well as support local education and environmental initiatives."
NYSAC urges the Governor and State Legislature to modify the Governor's proposed expansion of the Bottle Bill to include only glass containers.
For more information on NYSAC environmental priorities, please follow the links below.
- Memo in Support of Paint Stewardship - February 2019
- Plastic Bag Ban and Bottle Bill Expansion Fact Sheet - February 2019
- Letters from NYSAC and NYSACCHO to US EPA and NYS DOH Re: Setting Maximum Containment Level for Perfluorooctanoic Acid “PFOA” and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid “PFOS (August 2018)