September 12, 2006
OCRRA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Andy Brigham |
(315)-453-2866 |
THOUSANDS INK OCRRA PETITION FOR NEW BOTTLE BILL
FAIRGOERS ENTHUSIASTICALLY BACK PROPOSED LAW
Fairgoers by the thousands took the initiative to sign a petition urging members of the New York State Legislature to pass the expanded bottle bill. As a matter of fact, 6,126 persons who visited OCRRA’s booth at the Great New York State Fair eagerly sought to pen their names to the petition to be read by their representatives in Albany.
OCRRA’s Executive Director Tom Rhoads said, “It was terrific to witness the thousands of persons who voluntarily sought out our booth and signed the petition to expand the bottle bill. A number of persons zeroed in on the petitions first and then sauntered over to sign up for the free drawing for fleece jackets or an environmentally-friendly TV set. They were attracted to the OCRRA booth by the 14-foot tall water bottle urging them to back the newer and updated legislation in Albany. It was most refreshing to see where so many people have placed their priorities.”
Rhoads says that OCRRA intends to advise state legislators of the strong support and will see that the petitions reach their elected representatives.
Most bottles and cans with the 5-cent deposit get recycled. Unfortunately, most bottles and cans without the 5-cent deposit (such as water bottles) are trashed or end up as litter on our roadways -- even though they are recyclable.
For more than four years, OCRRA’s Board of Directors has been urging the New York State Legislature to update the original bill enacted during the early 1980’s. During the intervening years, there has been a tremendous growth in beverages not covered by the existing law. The ubiquitous water bottle can be seen wherever one might travel and there has been an explosion in popularity of many sports drinks, teas, and other non-carbonated beverages.
Rhoads says that passage of the expanded bottle bill will help to reduce roadside litter while concurrently increasing the recycling rates of these bottles and cans.
The New York State Senate is expected to meet this week to take up several measures passed by the State Assembly, but left over after the State Senate recessed for the summer. The bottle bill is one of those laws that has cleared the State Assembly but still needs approval from the New York State Senate before being sent to the Governor for his signature.
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OCRRA is an independent non-profit public benefit agency responsible for raising its own revenues. OCRRA develops, implements, and oversees sound environmental solutions for solid waste management through recycling and trash disposal. OCRRA’s policies and programs are products of a volunteer Board of Directors leading the community through award winning programs.
