1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge your support for Senate Bill S2351, sponsored by Senator Parker, which would modernize New York's Returnable Container Act for the first time since 1982. This bill addresses critical environmental and economic challenges by expanding covered beverages and increasing the deposit from 5 cents to 10 cents. The current system is failing. New York's bottle redemption rate has dropped from 75% in the 1980s and 1990s to just 65% between 2000 and 2020. This decline directly correlates with the eroding value of the 5-cent deposit, which has lost significant purchasing power over four decades. Meanwhile, plastic bottles remain the most common litter in New York waterways according to Riverkeeper's 2021 Hudson River Sweep. We have clear evidence that higher deposits work. Michigan's 10-cent deposit achieved an 89% redemption rate in 2019, demonstrating that doubling the deposit value drives meaningful behavioral change. S2351 would expand coverage to include liquor, ciders, teas, juices, and sports drinks, capturing beverage categories that did not exist or were not widely consumed when the original law passed. This expansion is essential because these containers now constitute a significant portion of beverage waste. The bill also addresses the financial crisis facing redemption centers by directing 5.5% of unredeemed deposits to support their operations quarterly. Many centers have closed because the 3.5-cent handling fee cannot cover rising labor and rent costs, eliminating income sources for low-income New Yorkers who depend on returning containers. The New York State Association of Counties reports that glass bottles burden municipal recycling programs, as broken glass contaminates other recyclables and damages equipment. By increasing redemption rates, S2351 would reduce contamination and lower costs for local governments. I ask that you support S2351 in the Environmental Conservation Committee and work to advance this legislation. New York needs a bottle bill that reflects current environmental realities and economic conditions.