A statement issued by AG Andrew Cuomo Friday, announces that the impending expansion of the current bottle deposit legislation has been set back in motion.A Judge, Debbie Batts out of Manhattan, lifted the injunction that had put the expansion process in limbo. The bottling companies lobbied that they would lose too much money in unredeemed deposits, I guess.
The new law was supposed to take effect June first, but District Court Judge Thomas Griesa ruled on that day that it wouldn’t take effect until April 1, 2010.
The new ruling means the state can start collecting 80 percent of the current unclaimed deposits, which is expected to total about $115M annually. Bottled water companies have until Oct. 22 to comply with the new law.
From one of the AP sources, Cuomo said: “Our victory will ensure that the most critical elements of the bill move forward expeditiously, resulting not only in cleaner communities and new, green jobs but also in over $100 million in added revenue for New York.”
Anyone following this Blog knows I am in favor of anything that helps diminish litter in the community while providing additional revenue for those who rely on deposit redemption to supplement their income. If you feel the addition of non-carbonated bottles will tap into your petty cash, simply start returning those bottles instead of mixing them in your trash. Hell, this may actually help the city in diminished tipping fees.
5 comments:
Mr. Madsen,
I hope when you get elected to the Ulster County Legislature you fine tune the approach and message in your last paragraph. On the surface I don’t disagree with what you said at all, I just feel you left some important facts unsaid. The real thing that we must all comprehend is that this situation transcends the plastic bottle industry issue itself. Growing up most of us never had the “luxury” of the designer water bottle accoutrement the same as not having cell phones, iPods etc. Today these items are almost like appendages to most people--some cultural phenomena--like being from a special class with “I’m so cool” written all over it also; with no insult to those in the “special class” who probably see right through this whole thing for what it is. It just seems like another way for capitalism to pick peoples’ pockets without them even knowing they are being fleeced.
It is not solely about petro-based products winding up in the landfill or left strewn along highway 61 revisited to get back to the Dylan story theme for a second. This whole thing goes beyond all of the human needs, reasons and methods to stay hydrated with many folks almost being over-hydrated like being overfed at the fast food altar of obesity with unnecessary consumption of a precious commodity.
I remember speaking to someone who worked in a local corner store in the mid ‘80s who said that people will probably begin to realize the geopolitical importance of all things about water when it’s almost too late and that it will be as pertinent as oil and other commodities because without it, we die, plain and simple. We can all adjust to the oil deal one way or another without dying of thirst which is what no water’s obvious effect has on the individual.
The most basic thing to know is that plastic bottles can leach toxic carcinogens when left in the sun for too long. The water in many of these bottles is not better for you no matter how fancy the name, the bottle, the label or the place of origin. Our very own Kingston water is far better for you than all of this hyped-up crud on the store shelves and it’s far less expensive. People can purchase a stainless steel bottle (designer style if they want) and go to the--what’s it called?--the water faucet in their home and fill ‘er up with high test, good old American, Cooper Lake H2O that gets tested twice a day.
My son realized he wasted almost $180 last year buying water alone and the years before that it was much more until I convinced him to go back to the clear liquid he was raised on before this “need” for this other substitute arose. A friend of mine came up with this joke many years ago where he said he discovered a replacement for water, but couldn’t find anything to mix it with.
So, yes, diminish litter—use a glass. Recycle everything you can to preserve all we can preserve. Almost sounds like a motto or two….
Is that Michelle Tuchman in that photo with Andrew Cuomo ???
hmmmm,
Why stop at bottles? Shouldn't we make all consumer products recyclable?
What no deposit on bottles for catsup, mustart, salad dressing, milk, BBQ sauce, pickle jars, etc... Call me a cynic, but this is more about the $115 million in revenue then it is about the environment.
Why is DPW fixing the steps the contractor was suppose to replace? Didn't Mike sit on the bid review committee?
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