Ulster County, NY Urging the Legislature To Update New York's Bottle Bill

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 6/11/08
Vote: In Favor - 22 Opposed - 8
Source File: http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/resolution-archives/2008/195-08.pdf
Text: 
Resolution No. 195
Urging The New York State Legislature To Update New York's Bottle Bill
WHEREAS, Ulster County acknowledges its responsibility to keep our
communities clean and healthy, and
WHEREAS, since 1982, more than 90 billion bottles and cans have been
returned and recycled in New York, and the volume of litter has been reduced by
30%, because of the 5-cent refundable deposit on beer and soda containers, and
WHEREAS, the Bottle Bill did not include bottled water, iced teas, sports
drinks, and other non-carbonated beverages because they were not popular in 1982,
but they now make up a quarter of the beverage market, and
WHEREAS, litter surveys conducted in New York by coastal cleanup
volunteers found that two-thirds of the bottles and cans polluting New York’s rivers
and beaches are non-deposit containers, and these containers make up 20% of the
total litter volume, and
WHEREAS, 80% of deposit containers are recycled through the Bottle Bill
and curbside recycling programs in New York, while only 20% of non-deposit
containers are recycled, and
WHEREAS, New York is out of step with many other states, which require
beverage companies to return unclaimed bottle deposits to benefit the public, and
WHEREAS, New York’s law does not provide for the disposition of any
unclaimed deposits, and the beverage industry has retained over $1.5 billion in
unclaimed deposits since 1982, and
WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Fund is a dedicated trust fund for
New York’s environment that supports local recycling programs, parks, waterfront
revitalization, open space, farmland preservation, and other programs to protect our
land, air and water, and
WHEREAS, the Governor’s Office estimates that the unclaimed deposits
would generate at least $100 million annually for the State Environmental Protection
Fund, and
WHEREAS, this proposal, known as the Bigger Better Bottle Bill, was passed
by the New York State Assembly in 2005 and 2006, and has been endorsed by more
than 400 groups, businesses, and local governments across the state, and
WHEREAS, the Environmental Committee has met and reviewed said request
with a majority of the members voting approval.
RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature does hereby urge state
lawmakers to support cleaner communities, a healthier environment, and increased
funding for environmental programs by adopting as legislation, the Bigger Better
Bottle Bill, and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall
forward copies of this resolution to Governor David Paterson, New York State
Comptroller’s Office, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Senate Minority Leader
Malcolm Smith, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assembly Majority Leader Ron
Canestrari, Assembly Minority Leader James N. Tedisco, New York State Senators
John J. Bonacic and William J. Larkin, Jr., New York State Assemblymen Kevin A.
Cahill, Clifford W. Crouch, Peter Lopez and Thomas Kirwan, the New York Public
Interest Research Group and the New York State Association of Counties,
and moves its adoption.
Category:County Governments
Category:New York
Category:Recycling
Category:Resolutions