Environmentalists are pushing for a new improvement to the bottle bill. If the improvements to the bill pass, it would require a five cent deposit on water and other non carbonated beverages. Currently only carbonated beverages have a deposit. At a press conference today in Albany representatives explained that over four and half billion containers of non carbonated beverages were sold in 2006. Now that Democrats have the majority in the senate, environmentalists feel the change to the bill has a better chance to be enacted.
Environmentalists are not the only ones who want improvements to the bottle bill. Governor Paterson also feels that it would help increase state revenue. At the press conference, it is projected that with the new "Bigger Better Bottle Bill" $118 million dollars could be generated. Not only would the new bill generate money but it would also create more jobs and benefit communities.
NCC News spoke with Laura Haight, NYPIRG’s senior environmental associate, who explained that they are urging people to contact their state law makers in support of the bill.
Haight also said that the bill will not be finalized until the 2009-2010 budget is complete, most likely in March.
Although the new bill has a lot of support, not everyone is backing the idea. Big bottle companies are not in favor of it.
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