Support Updating New York State's Bottle Bill

I am writing to urge you to support updating New York State's bottle bill to reflect current beverage consumption patterns and environmental needs. The current law, enacted decades ago, covers only a fraction of the beverages sold today, leaving billions of containers to end up in landfills and as litter across our communities. New York's bottle bill has been successful where it applies, achieving redemption rates above 60 percent for covered containers. However, the law excludes most water bottles, sports drinks, energy drinks, and other non-carbonated beverages that now dominate the market. This outdated scope means we are missing a critical opportunity to reduce waste and recover valuable materials for recycling. Expanding the bottle bill to include all beverage containers would significantly reduce litter in our neighborhoods, parks, and waterways. It would also create a more consistent and less confusing system for consumers who currently must determine which bottles have deposits and which do not. States that have modernized their bottle bills have seen dramatic increases in recycling rates and reductions in container waste. Updating the deposit amount, which has remained at five cents since 1983, would also improve the program's effectiveness. Adjusting for inflation alone would justify a higher deposit that provides stronger incentive for returns while generating revenue that could support recycling infrastructure and environmental programs. I ask that you champion legislation to expand New York's bottle bill to cover all beverage containers and increase the deposit to a level that reflects current economic realities. This update would reduce litter, increase recycling, create jobs in redemption and processing, and position New York as a leader in waste reduction. Our communities and environment deserve a bottle bill that works for the 21st century.