Bill Text: NY J02636 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the passage of the New York State Returnable Container Act

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-05-17 - REFERRED TO FINANCE [J02636 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J02636-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 2636

BY: Senator MAY

        COMMEMORATING  the 40th Anniversary of the passage
        of the New York State Returnable Container Act

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that  the
continuing  welfare  of the citizens of the State of New York is greatly
enriched and reliably  served  by  the  purposeful  endeavors  of  those
organizations  and  individuals who are committed to the preservation of
our natural environment and the enhancement of the appreciation  of  the
distinctive features of our surroundings, and to the economic well-being
of the areas in which they exist; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
commemorate  the  40th  Anniversary of the passage of the New York State
Returnable Container Act; and

  WHEREAS, The New York State Returnable Container Act, commonly known
as the "Bottle Bill," was enacted into law in 1982; throughout the  last
four  decades,  it  has demonstrated a proven track record of success in
both reducing roadside  litter  by  70  percent  while  alleviating  the
state's  waste  disposal  services  of  billions  of burdensome beverage
containers and diverting them from municipal landfills and  incinerators
to create an environmentally beneficial circular economy; and

  WHEREAS,  Since  its  inception,  over 11 million tons of containers
have been recycled in New York, thus reducing greenhouse  gas  emissions
equivalent to taking approximately three million cars off the road for a
year; and

  WHEREAS,  The Bottle Bill continues to create jobs and is a critical
economic  lifeline  to  many  of  New   York's   most   vulnerable   and
disadvantaged communities; and

  WHEREAS,  By  expanding and modernizing the program to include wine,
liquor, hard cider, and non-carbonated beverage bottles, and by  raising
the  deposit  from a nickel to a dime, recycling rates would increase to
90 percent, thereby, reducing container littler in our streets; and

  WHEREAS, In addition,  due  to  the  growing  recycling  crisis,  an
expansion  of  the  Bottle Bill would help ease the burden the municipal
recycling facilities are facing by keeping these materials  out  of  the
traditional waste stream; and

  WHEREAS,  Expansion of the Bottle Bill would be phased in, beginning
primarily with the harder-to-manage glass and aluminum  containers,  and
then  moving to PET and other plastics; this initiative will help ensure
a continued market for  beverage  container  materials  and  provide  an
important step in decreasing reliance on single-use plastic; and

  WHEREAS,  The  New  York State Legislature is proud to recognize the
historical success of the New York State Returnable Container Act; and

  WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon all citizens to recognize and  applaud
the  efforts  of  those  who work tirelessly on behalf of protecting our
natural surroundings for the benefit of present and  future  generations
of New Yorkers; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the passage of the  New  York  State
Returnable Container Act; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  copies  of  this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York and to the New York State Department of Conservation.