Bigger Better Bottle Bill

New York's "Returnable Container Act," popularly known as the "Bottle Bill," requires a 5 cent refundable deposit on beer and soda containers sold in the state. The Bottle Bill is New York's most successful recycling and litter prevention program.

A bill, known as the "Bigger Better Bottle Bill," would update the Bottle Bill by requiring deposits on non-carbonated beverages such as bottled water, iced teas, and sports drinks, that weren't included in the original law because they were not widely sold when the Bottle Bill passed in 1982.

An additional revenue-raising component of the bill would require beverage companies to return "unclaimed" bottle deposits to the state, rather than keep the money as profits; many other states have such a provisions. Currently, the beverage industry retains over $140 million in unclaimed deposits on bottles and cans alone.

Learn about these other options for raising revenue (Click an item for more information):

• Bulk Purchasing of Prescription Drugs
• Closing Certain Juvenile Detention Centers
• Closing Corporate Tax Loopholes
• Eliminate Private College and University Aid (aka, Bundy Aid)
• Eliminate Unnecessary State Employee Overtime
• Limit Use of Private Consultants
• Reforming the Empire Zones Program
• Rockfeller Drug Law Reform

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