February 10, 2007

New Bottle Bill: Half Full or Half Empty?
Environmentalists like plan; handlers reluctant
By Michelle King

In a new plan to protect the environment, Gov. Eliot Spitzer says he wants to expand the state bottle deposit bill to include non-carbonated beverages — a move expected to generate at least $100 million for the first fiscal year.

The bill will be contingent upon budget reviews in the Assembly and Senate. If passed, the law would take effect Jan. 1, 2008.

The bottle revenue would be created from unclaimed 5-cent bottle deposits and returned to the New York State Environmental Protection Fund said Judith Enck, the governor's deputy secretary for the environment.

But the proposal has a long way to go before there will be a nickel deposit on more containers. The idea is getting mixed reviews from environmentalists, retailers and people whose business is redeeming 5 cents per container.

According to a summary chart on the proposed bottle bill, the expansion would exclude “liquor, wine, infant formula, milk, rice, soy milk, nutritional supplements, medications, concentrates and soups.” Beverage containers applicable under the bill were defined as “containing less than one gallon or 3.78 liters at the time or offer of sale.”

Enck said other top priorities for the bill include increasing the bottle handling fee — for bottle return stations from 2 cents to 3.5 cents per container — and starting a “new grant program (through Empire State Development Corp.) that would provide funding for the establishment of new redemption centers.”

According to a Siena Research Institute poll that asked 1,200 New Yorkers in January various questions about the bottle expansion, a slightly higher number of respondents — of 33.9 percent — say they would prefer to “expand curbside recycling and litter control,” while 32.3 percent would rather expand the bottle bill and 30.8 percent were undecided or believed the current recycling system was sufficient.

The survey's questions were prepared for New Yorkers for Real Recycling Reform and the Food Industry Alliance of New York State, the institute said.

Some were welcoming of the possible change, saying it will be highly beneficial to the environment.

Lauren Caruso, project coordinator of New York Public Interest Research Group at SUNY Cortland, said that since the original bottle bill's inception in 1982, it's had a substantial impact on the environment.

“More than 80 billion containers have been redeemed and recycled through the original bottle bill, and obviously by expanding it,” she said. The organization's 21 college chapters also are planning on lobbying for this cause in Albany, she said.

“All four years I've been supporting it,” said Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, D-125th District. “I think I voted for it eight times total.”

But to some business owners, expanding into a “bigger” bottle bill doesn't necessarily translate into “better,” especially under the current law.

Bret Seafuse, store manager of the Trumansburg ShurSave, said he's concerned if the law is passed, it would cause sanitation issues. Space would also be another problem, he said.

“Right now I need to do something different,” Seafuse said. “Some of that is due to the fact of us getting more affected because no other store is in town.” In December, the other store — a former Big M supermarket in town — closed and will be reopened sometime this year as a Sav-A-Lot grocery store.

Another problem Seafuse said is the handling fee for every bottle doesn't cover overhead costs such as for staffing and delivery fees.

Matt Berry, a deliveryman at Seneca Beverage Corp., said expanding the bottle bill would be “chaotic,” and would be a strain for already overworked employees and facilities.

“Nobody is equipped for it,” Berry said. “It's hard enough right now.”

Shannon Lynch, who co-owns K&H Redemption Center in Ithaca with her mother, Debbie Anderson, also agreed, saying that although their business works on quantity reimbursements, it will require significant changes.

“It would be cleaner I think it would be better for the environment, but our facilities can't handle the volume,” she said.

When asking Lynch about what those changes may include, she said, “A lot of hours. We would have to hire people. I really think we would need a bigger space.” Pickups also would need to increase, she added.

These concerns are also why state Senator James Seward R-51st District is skeptical.

“It will put a burden on small businesses as far as handling bottles and having space to store them,” he said. Frankly, are we doing this for environmental reasons, or is this a hidden tax. Maybe we should look at direct funding for the Environmental Protection Fund versus imposing these additional burdens on small businesses.”

“It's always an adjustment, changes can be difficult,” Lifton said, when asked about bottle handling concerns. “I understand small grocery stores have a particular problem with this and I am glad to hear those concerns and work with them.”