Fix New York’s outdated Bottle Bill now. Raise the deposit from 5¢ to 10¢ and increase the handling fee to 6¢ to save redemption centers across the state.
A fix is ready but politicians are stalling. Make them listen. Sign the petition.
The Problem
New York's Bottle Bill hasn't been updated since 1983. Deposits are still 5¢. Handling fees are just 3.5¢. After decades of inflation, those numbers can no longer support recycling centers or redemption programs.
Who Benefits?
Big beverage companies save money every time the system stays outdated. Unclaimed deposits and underfunded handling fees reduce their costs. Legislators also face less industry pushback by delaying reform - while communities and recycling workers pay the price.
The Solution
The Better Bottle Bill will raise the deposit and update handling fees. That means more recycling, cleaner streets, and stable recycling jobs - funded by the system itself, not taxpayers.
Submit Your Testimony
Your Official Testimony (Pre-filled)
New York
Chair and Members of the Committee,
My name is [Your Name], and I am a New York resident.
As a consumer, I am legally required to pay a deposit on beverage containers under New York's Bottle Bill. That requirement is supposed to guarantee that I can redeem those containers and recover my money. Today, that guarantee is no longer being honored.
For nearly twenty years, the handling fee paid to redemption centers has remained outdated. As a result, redemption centers have closed, hours have been reduced, and many retailers now limit or refuse returns.
This outcome was foreseeable. Consumers are still required to pay deposits, but our ability to redeem them continues to decline. When deposits go unredeemed, the money does not disappear, it is retained by the State of New York. Public data shows that tens of millions of dollars in unredeemed deposits are collected by the state every year.
New York's Bottle Bill is often praised as a successful environmental program, but only when redemption access exists. What consumers are experiencing today is not a broken law, but a broken promise.
The Legislature has the power to fix this now. Including a fair and equitable handling fee in this year's budget will restore redemption access. Bills A6267 and S5820A directly address this issue and must be included in the budget.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit this testimony.
Sincerely,
Signed: [Digital Signature]
Email: [Email Address]
Address: [Street Address, City, Zip]