Cecilia Ellis (NYPIRG) testifies in support of Resolution 362 and bottle bill modernization
Cecilia Ellis of NYPIRG testifies in support of Resolution 362, noting the bottle bill is the state's most successful recycling program, urging expansion of covered containers, and citing cost savings of $34.9-$80 million for NYC if the law is modernized. She calls for a dime deposit.
Hi, thanks.
Okay, so my name is Cecilia Ellis.
I am Policy and Communications Manager for the New York Public Interest Research Group, NYPERG.
Consumer protection, environmental preservation, public health, higher education, energy and climate, and government reforms are our principal areas of concern.
We're testifying today in support of Resolution 362.
My testimony summarizes the written version I've submitted, written by Blair Horner, our senior policy advisor.
As you know and have heard, the bottle bill has been on the books for over four decades and is the law that requires a nickel deposit on beverage containers and water bottles and cans.
Was originally designed as an anti-litter measure, but has become the most successful recycling program in general for the entire state.
Two-thirds of covered beverage containers are redeemed, and we need to expand the definition of which beverage containers are covered by the law.
Many containers that did not exist in 1982 are ubiquitous today and need to be covered, so we should be expanding that bottle bill.
Included in the written testimony are some examples of bottles like this vitamin water that is redeemable, but the Gatorade sports drink is not redeemable because it didn't exist.
We have a lot of drinks, a lot of examples of that in our written testimony.
We also have a recent report analyzing the cost savings to municipalities if New York does modernize the law.
As you heard,
heard from Ryan, New York City taxpayers could see a reduction in solid waste disposal and litter cleanup costs, totaling anywhere from $34.9 million to as much as $80 million.
Of course, the city budgets far exceed the savings estimated in the report, but as you know,
Budget's tightening.
We've heard all day today costs are going up.
Landfills are reaching capacity.
Any steps to curb solid waste and solid waste costs need to be embraced.
It's time for a dime.
So therefore, NYPR urges the council to support this resolution at the...
States to expand the state's bottle bill.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
And with that, this panel is relieved.
Gracias por toda la bendición.
Que Dios lo bendiga.