BUFFALO, N.Y. — Environmentalists are pushing to modernize the New York State Returnable Container Act, also known as the “Bottle Bill,” as it nears 40 years since its enactment.

What You Need To Know

  • The “Bottle Bill” currently lets people redeem a 5-cent deposit on certain bottles and cans
  • Environmentalists want to expand the program to include more types of containers like non-carbonated and liquor
  • They also want to see the deposit increased to 10 cents

The bill put a 5-cent deposit on aluminum, plastic and glass beverage containers to encourage recycling.

Environmentalist Judith Enck said the bill has been successful, and added that aluminum cans with a deposit on them have seen a 78% recycling rate vs. a 36% recycling rate on non-deposit cans — a difference evident across the board.

“It’s quite remarkable that a modest deposit makes such a difference,” said Enck.

Enck said it’s now time to expand the bill to include containers that hold liquor and carbonated beverages, as well as double the deposit amount to 10 cents a piece.

“This is a moment when the New York State Legislature has to decide, what are their priorities?” said Enck. “And this is not a new program. We’ve got 40 years of experience with this.”

Managers at redemption centers like Clean Loop Recycling on Botsford Place in Buffalo said they support the “Bigger, Better Bottle Bill.”

“We are prepared,” said Randy Scott, Clean Loop Recycling Center manager. “The technology here sorts by barcodes. So all it would take for us to do is input barcodes to accept anything that isn’t currently on the current New York state ‘Bottle Bill.’”

The bill was not in Gov. Hochul’s state budget but Enck said she is confident Hochul will back it.