Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Leaders of the Assembly & Senate:

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Leaders of the Senate and Assembly:

New York State is actively refusing to address the crisis that is collapsing the bottle redemption system. Due to skyrocketing expenses and a suppressed handling fee (how redemption centers are paid), we have lost 168 redemption centers in just two years. That is 25% of the entire industry. Over 700 environmental jobs have gone with them.

What does this mean for consumers? State and corporate theft. By forcing more redemption centers to close, more access is being taken from consumers to get their deposit money back. As a result, the deposit is quickly turning into a tax. Lawmakers must take action to address this issue, and it can no longer wait.

At minimum, legislators can-and must-increase the handling fee to 5¢ to provide these vital environmental businesses to keep their doors open and access available to struggling New Yorkers who rely on this money.

Container expansion should also be prioritized as it is costing taxpayer dollars to dispose of this waste rather than allowing it to be recycled with containers that are no different. This lack of action is putting an undue burden on consumers confused by a complicated and nonsensical system, as well and forcing workers at redemption centers to perform forced free labor as they must handle these containers but are not paid a handling fee for doing so.

Stores cannot replace redemption centers and consumers are being hurt with every hurdle being put between them and the money that is rightfully theirs.

We support a broader expansion of the bottle bill and welcome an opportunity to meet with you to discuss a path forward. For now, we need action. 

Sincerely,