Celebrating 42 Years of the Bottle Bill: Rensselaer County Democratic Minority Legislators Are Calling on the State Legislature to Modernize New York’s Landmark Recycling Program

Troy, NY — This year marks the 42nd anniversary of New York State’s groundbreaking Bottle Bill, a revolutionary program signed into law by then-Governor Hugh Carey in 1983. Widely recognized as New York’s most effective recycling and litter reduction program, the Bottle Bill has led to a 70% reduction in roadside litter and removed billions of bottles and cans from the waste stream over the decades.

In an effort to build upon this legacy, Rensselaer County Democratic Minority Legislators call to modernize the Bottle Bill, expanding the list of returnable containers to include items such as sports drinks, juices, teas, wine, and spirits. “This update would prevent millions of additional containers from heading to landfills, many of which are reaching capacity, and encourage more New Yorkers to participate in the recycling process, a win/win for all,” stated Deputy Minority Leader Nina Nichols.

The legislation also seeks to increase the deposit fee from 5 cents to 10 cents—a rate that has remained unchanged since 1983. This adjustment would help strengthen the state’s recycling system by boosting revenue for redemption centers, many of which have struggled to sustain operations, and incentivizing consumers to recycle. “This may look like an increase, but in the long run is a money saver when considering the landfill and labor costs related to the trash generated,” said Legislator Gary Galuski.

“Modernizing the Bottle Bill is an essential step forward for New York’s environmental future,” stated Democratic Minority Leader Peter Grimm. “With the proposed changes, we’ll be able to reduce litter, increase recycling rates, save local governments millions of dollars annually, and even create new jobs for communities across the state.”

According to the Container Recycling Institute, deposit states achieve a 60% beverage container recycling rate, compared to just 24% in non-deposit states. “We know, bottle deposit programs in states like New York have proven significantly more effective than those in states without such laws,” said Legislator Carole Weaver.

“As New York looks to uphold its commitment to environmental stewardship, updating the Bottle Bill remains a crucial step toward reducing carbon emissions, supporting informal recycling collectors, and ensuring a cleaner, greener future for generations to come, “commented Legislator Mark Fleming.

“As a representative of the City of Troy, I am dedicated to increasing our recycling rate, which has unfortunately hovered around 10%,” stated Legislator Ken Zalewski, a member of the legislature’s Environment Committee.  “It makes no sense that water, beer, and soda bottles can be returned for a refund, but sports drink, iced tea, and wine bottles cannot.  If we truly care about environmental stewardship – and saving money along the way – we need to remove more glass and plastics from our waste stream.  This legislation is a major step in that direction, and I strongly support it.”