Urge the Assembly to support the Bigger Better Bottle Bill

Parks and Trails New York sent me this message today. As a former director of recycling for NYC I can tell you that the current bottle bill made a major impact on both the litter problem and recycling. I encourage you to support this update of the bill. Thanks, Ruth Wahtera

The Bigger Better Bottle Bill:

• Reduces waste

• Provides more money for the environment, including significant funding for parks and trails

Call or email your Assemblyperson today.

Calls or emails are needed to Assembly members in support of the Bigger Better Bottle Bill (A-8044-A/Sweeney). Let your Assemblyperson know that you support this expanded beverage container law and urge him or her to support it when it comes to the Assembly floor for a vote – possibly as early as Wednesday of this week.

If you’re not sure who your Assembly member is you can search by zip-code using this link - http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

If your Assembly member supports the Bigger Better Bottle Bill thank him or her for the support and urge them to remain committed to this important piece of legislation.

Background/Talking Points

The Bigger Better Bottle Bill reduces waste

• Since its inception, the current Bottle Bill, which requires a deposit on beer and soda containers, has been one of New York’s most successful waste reduction and recycling programs.

• In the years since the Bottle Bill was first enacted our drinking habits have changed dramatically.

• The Bigger Better Bottle Bill updates the existing law to include non-carbonated beverage containers, including bottled water, sports drinks and iced teas which now make up a significantly greater portion of the drink market and account for a greater percentage of the litter we find in our parks and on our roadsides.

• According to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, nearly 2.5 billion water bottles are sold every year in New York State alone.

The Bigger Better Bottle Bill provides financial benefits for the environment, including significant funding for parks and trails projects

• By redirecting the unclaimed nickel deposits from the beverage bottling companies to the state the bill provides a much needed source of additional revenue for the state’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

• The EPF is the primary source of funding for myriad environmental programs including municipal parks, trail projects, land acquisition, state land stewardship, and recycling programs.

• It is estimated that the unclaimed nickels, which the bottlers currently keep, could total between $100 and $200 million in additional funding for the EPF annually.

Passing the Bigger Better Bottle Bill will benefit all New Yorkers for years to come. Whether it results in reduced litter in our parks, on our beaches and roadsides, and/or increased funding for EPF programs, the Bigger Better Bottle Bill is win-win legislation.

Thank you for your support of parks and trail

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