Great news from New York on the expansion of their Bottle Deposit Law. FYI. Begin forwarded message: > On Apr 6, 2009, at 7:51 AM, Paula Carrell wrote: >> >> The chapter has been very focused on this bill -- making solid use >> of their >> activist alert system & newsletter to generate support from across >> NY. >> >> Great news from the Atlantic Chapter: >> >> More than 700 nonprofit groups, small businesses, and local >> governments >> have called for updating the Bottle Law since the campaign was >> launched in >> 2000. Tens of thousands of citizens have called, written letters, >> sent >> e-mails, signed petitions, and met with their state legislators >> urging >> their support. Three independent polls have shown that more than >> 80% of >> registered voters in New York support expanding the Bottle Law and >> recapturing the unclaimed deposits. But for years the legislation >> stalled >> in Albany due to powerful special interest lobbyists from the >> beverage and >> retail industry. Opponents of the bottle bill expansion gave more >> than $2 >> million in campaign contributions to state legislators over the >> past two >> years. >> Here's the final release that went out >> >> Adirondack Council • Adirondack Mountain Club • American Farmland >> Trust • >> American Littoral Society • Audubon New York • Citizens Bottle and >> Can >> Redemption Association • Citizens Campaign for the Environment • >> Container >> Recycling Institute • Empire State Beer Distributors Association • >> Environmental Advocates of New York • Group for the East End • Hudson >> River Sloop Clearwater • Jamesville Positive Action Committee • >> Land Trust >> Alliance • League of Women Voters of New York State • Long Island >> Drinking >> Water Coalition • Long Island Environmental Voters Forum • Long >> Island >> Pine Barrens Society • Natural Resources Defense Council • New York >> Farm >> Bureau • New York League of Conservation Voters • New York Public >> Interest >> Research Group • New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and >> Recycling • North Shore Land Alliance • Parks and Trails New York • >> Promesa Systems • People’s Environmental Network of New York • >> Scenic >> Hudson •Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter • Surfrider Foundation • The >> Nature >> Conservancy >> >> >> NEWS RELEASE >> >> For Immediate Release >> For Information Contact: >> >> April 3rd, 2009 >> Laura Haight (NYPIRG) 518-588-5481 >> Erica Ringewald (EA) 518-210-9903 >> >> GROUPS CHEER PASSAGE OF BIGGER BETTER BOTTLE BILL >> >> Update of State’s Bottle Recycling Law Hailed as Major >> Environmental >> Victory >> >> (Albany, NY) Groups from across the state applauded passage of >> the >> Bigger Better Bottle Bill today as part of the 2009-10 state >> budget. This >> momentous achievement is the first major overhaul of the state’s >> bottle >> deposit law since it was created in 1982, and caps a grueling nine- >> year >> campaign to expand and update the law. The update expands New >> York’s >> bottle return law to include water bottles, which comprise nearly a >> quarter of all beverages sold in New York. The law also requires >> beverage >> companies to return 80% of the unclaimed bottle and can deposits to >> the >> state, generating upwards of $115 million annually for the General >> Fund. >> >> “This is a huge victory not only for the environment, but for the >> people >> of New York,” said Laura Haight, senior environmental associate with >> NYPIRG. “As a result of this law, we will have noticeably cleaner >> communities and far more recycling. At the same time, the money >> from the >> public’s unclaimed nickels will go to work for us, not for Coke and >> Pepsi.” >> >> The groups praised Governor David Paterson for his leadership, >> fulfilling >> a promise he made to environmental groups at Earth Day Lobby Day last >> year; Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assemblyman Bob Sweeney and members >> of the >> Assembly for their steadfast support, having passed the bill every >> year >> since 2005; and Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, Senator Antoine >> Thompson >> and members of the Senate majority, without whose commitment the >> budget >> agreement would not have happened. The groups also acknowledged the >> efforts of former Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli and Senator Kenneth >> LaValle, >> who introduced previous versions of the bill, and noted bipartisan >> support >> for the expansion that is not reflected in today’s budget vote. >> >> “Since the bottle bill was enacted nearly 30 years ago, the beverage >> industry has grown to include water drinks that have proliferated not >> simply on store shelves, but along the sides of our roads, >> wetlands, open >> spaces, and beaches,” said Bob Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst), Chair of the >> Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. “This budget will >> encourage >> recycling and help to clean our environment by updating New York’s >> most >> successful recycling law to better represent today’s consumers." >> >> “The Bigger Better Bottle Bill is an issue close to my heart for good >> reason,” said Senator Antoine Thompson (D-parts of Erie & Niagara >> Counties), Chair of the Senate's Environmental Conservation >> Committee. >> “The recycling of water bottles will significantly reduce litter >> throughout our communities and its accumulation in landfills. We are >> committed to creating green jobs for New Yorkers across the state >> that >> will both protect the environment and revitalize our economy; and >> passage >> of this legislation will bring us a step closer to that realization.” >> >> HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NEW LAW >> >> The expansion, which goes into effect on June 1st, will require a >> deposit >> on all water bottles sold in New York. According to the Container >> Recycling Institute, more than 3.2 billion water bottles were sold >> in New >> York State alone – nearly a quarter of the state’s total beverage >> sales. >> Bottled water represents 70% of the total noncarbonated beverage >> sales in >> New York which previous versions of the bill sought to capture. >> Water >> bottles are one of the most common items found in litter cleanups >> in New >> York. Without a deposit, most of these containers end up in the >> trash or >> polluting our communities. Oregon and Connecticut have also >> recently >> expanded their deposit laws to include bottled water. >> >> The law requires beverage companies to return 80% of the unclaimed >> deposits to the state General Fund, raising an estimated $115 >> million next >> year. Since 1982, beer and soda companies have retained more than >> $2 >> billion in unclaimed deposits. This legislation brings New York >> into line >> with other states, such as Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Hawaii, >> and >> most recently Connecticut, which already escheat unclaimed beverage >> container deposits. >> >> The law also includes a number of measures that will improve >> opportunities for New Yorkers to return their empty bottles and cans, >> including incentives for small business and nonprofit redemption >> centers >> and requirements for large stores to maintain dedicated areas for >> bottle >> and can returns. These provisions, plus the expansion and an >> increased >> handling fee, will lead to the creation of thousands of new jobs >> across >> the state. >> >> QUOTES FROM GROUPS >> >> "Updating New York's bottle deposit law has been one of the >> environmental >> community's top priorities since it was introduced," said Robert >> Moore, >> Executive Director of Environmental Advocates of New York. "The New >> York >> State Legislature and Governor Paterson are to be commended for their >> leadership in getting the Bigger Better Bottle Bill passed and >> improving >> on our most successful recycling program." >> >> “The Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter applauds the Governor and >> Legislature >> for the historic expansion of the bottle recycling program,” said >> Susan >> Lawrence, Chapter Chair. “This action will protect our roads, >> beaches, and >> parks from water bottle litter, and helps municipalities save money >> from >> landfill expansions. Recycling these bottles will especially >> contribute to >> reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. We extend >> our >> heartfelt thanks to the Governor and Legislature for this important >> victory.” >> >> “Finally, we can say ‘Good Bye’ to the multitude of bottles >> polluting our >> parks, highways, beaches and communities. We won't miss them. We >> applaud >> the leadership of the Legislature and the Governor for getting the >> job >> done,” said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director for Citizens >> Campaign >> for the Environment. >> >> “We are greatly appreciative of the leadership displayed by the >> Governor >> and Legislature by approving an expanded bottle bill to help clean >> up our >> farm fields and expand recycling efforts," said Dean Norton, >> President of >> New York Farm Bureau. "Farmers are prime stewards of our land and >> extending the bottle return statute to water bottles is a big win for >> environmental protection in New York State.” >> >> “The passage of the bottle bill update is a victory that will >> create more >> green jobs across the state, reward the beverage retailer who >> embraces the >> most effective method if recycling and leave our planet a better >> place for >> future generations,” said Pete Sobol, legislative liaison for >> Empire State >> Beer Distributors Association. “We thank the Governor and all the >> legislators in Albany who made this happen.” >> >> "Inclusion of the bottle bill in the budget means that our volunteers >> will find significantly less water bottles on New York's beaches," >> said >> Barbara Toborg of the American Littoral Society. >> >> “The League of Women Voters of New York State joins our coalition >> partners in applauding Governor Paterson, Majority Leader Malcolm >> Smith >> and Speaker Sheldon Silver for expanding beverage recycling to >> include >> water bottles,” said Barbara Bartoletti, Legislative Director. >> “This will >> remove water bottles from the waste stream and return nickels >> deposits for >> much needed state revenue.” >> >> "CRI is thrilled at this important victory in New York,” said >> Elizabeth >> McLaughlin, executive director of the Container Recycling Institute. >> “Coming on the heels of Connecticut's decision to include water >> bottles, >> and Oregon's implementation of the same update, New York's decision >> will >> likely mean all bottle bill states will follow, since New York is >> such a >> big market. We congratulate the many, many supporters who worked >> tirelessly for this nationally significant win." >> >> "The passage of the BBBB gives redemption centers across the state an >> opportunity to create hundreds of new jobs as existing redemption >> centers >> expand and new centers open,” said Sheila Rivers, of the Bottle and >> Can >> Redemption Association (BACRA). “We thank our lawmakers for their >> achievement in passing this important legislation. The increase in >> the >> handling fee enables us to create a viable business model allowing >> us to >> provide for our families and our employees. The addition of water >> bottles >> into the deposit system offers us a growth opportunity as well as >> increasing fundraising opportunities for many worthy organizations.” >> >> “The Nature Conservancy thanks Legislators and the Governor working >> together to pass an expanded Bottle Bill, which will generate more >> than >> $100 million in revenue for the state while enhancing the >> environment," >> said Kathy Moser, Deputy State Director for Conservation for The >> Nature >> Conservancy in New York. "We are especially thankful to Assemblyman >> Robert >> Sweeney and Senator Antoine Thompson for their leadership in >> seizing this >> opportunity to increase environmental protections in our New York." >> >> “The restorations to the Environmental Protection Fund and passage >> of the >> Bigger Better Bottle Bill are big successes for New York’s >> environment,” >> said Marcia Bystryn, president of the New York League of Conservation >> Voters. "We applaud Gov. David Paterson, Speaker Sheldon Silver, >> Majority >> Leader Malcolm Smith, Assemblyman Robert Sweeney and Senator Antoine >> Thompson for their leadership and the importance they place on >> environmental progress, even in these difficult economic times." >> >> "The expanded bottle bill legislation provides a critical addition >> to New >> York's recycling laws as well as a needed economic asset for the >> state >> budget," said Richard Schrader, the New York Legislative Director >> for the >> Natural Resources Defense Council. >> >> Andy Bicking, Director of Public Policy for Scenic Hudson stated, >> “The >> expansion of the bottle bill is a victory for all New Yorkers. It >> will >> reduce litter in our public parks and on our waterfronts, helping >> them to >> stay safe and attractive destinations that attract appropriate >> economic >> development. Governor Paterson, Majority Leader Smith and Speaker >> Silver >> deserve a hearty round of congratulations from the Hudson Valley's >> environmental community.” >> >> "The Governor and the Legislature see the importance of this expanded >> bottle bill, both as an anti-litter and recycling initiative and as >> an >> important source of revenue at a time when it is so urgently needed,” >> noted Manna Jo Greene of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. >> >> “The Surfrider Foundation looks forward to cleaner beaches as a >> result of >> the improved bottle bill in NY. Thank you to the legislators who >> championed this cause and the ones who compromised to allow this,” >> said >> Steff Zellinger, volunteer with the New York City Chapter of the >> Surfrider >> Foundation. >> >> “We are here today because of the leadership demonstrated by all >> three >> leaders and their commitment to the small business community. We >> applaud >> you and look forward to continuing our work to ensure that small >> business >> has a seat at the table,” said Carlos Nazario, President and >> Chairman of >> Promesa. >> >> “The North Shore Land Alliance would like to thank all of our elected >> officials who voted to expand the Bigger Better Bottle Bill,” said >> President Lisa W. Ott. “As stewards of our local lands we are >> particularly grateful for legislation that will result in cleaner >> waterways and reduce litter in our parks and preserves while >> bringing new >> revenue to the State. Bravo!” >> >> “Expanding the Bottle Bill has always made good economic and >> environmental sense, and we are thrilled that the legislature has >> finally >> agreed with us,” said Albert E. Caccese, Executive Director of >> Audubon New >> York. “Audubon New York applauds the Legislature, especially >> Assemblyman >> Robert Sweeney and Senator Antoine Thompson, for developing this >> important >> compromise on the Bigger, Better Bottle Bill, and for protecting the >> integrity of the EPF.” >> >> "In challenging economic times, New York State's commitment to >> modernizing the Bottle Bill is smart and commendable. Land Trust >> Alliance >> and the communities served by New York's 90 land trusts applaud >> Governor >> Paterson and the Legislature for this historic achievement, which >> will >> help create jobs, protect our natural heritage, conserve resources, >> and >> generate much needed revenue for the State of New York," said Land >> Trust >> Alliance’s New York Conservation Manager, Ethan Winter. >> >> “Our thanks go out to the Legislature and Governor for pushing >> through >> the expansion of the Bottle Bill,” said David Haight, New York >> Director >> for the American Farmland Trust. “Farmers have long supported the >> Bottle >> Bill and its expansion as a way to keep litter out of farm fields and >> support a healthy environment in New York.” >> >> “The long-awaited expansion of New York’s bottle bill will mean less >> litter in our state and local parks, in our waterways and along our >> highways, and it will provide significant revenue for the state,” >> said Tim >> Sweeney of Parks & Trails New York. “Governor Paterson and the >> Legislature should be commended for putting New York’s environment >> first.” >> >> More than 700 nonprofit groups, small businesses, and local >> governments >> have called for updating the Bottle Law since the campaign was >> launched in >> 2000. Tens of thousands of citizens have called, written letters, >> sent >> e-mails, signed petitions, and met with their state legislators >> urging >> their support. Three independent polls have shown that more than >> 80% of >> registered voters in New York support expanding the Bottle Law and >> recapturing the unclaimed deposits. But for years the legislation >> stalled in Albany due to powerful special interest lobbyists from the >> beverage and retail industry. Opponents of the bottle bill >> expansion gave >> more than $2 million in campaign contributions to state legislators >> over >> the past two years. >> >> ### - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. 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