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NYS's "Bigger Better Bottle Bill" |
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Written by Gov. Paterson's Office
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Tuesday, 31 March 2009 05:24 |
 Governor David A. Paterson today announced
that the Budget agreement represents significant gains for the State’s
environment through initiatives to increase recycling, prevent
pollution and protect New York’s natural resources.
“Our commitment to New York’s long-term
fiscal stability would be in vain if we did not also commit to programs
that ensure our long-term environmental health,” Governor Paterson
said. “Our expansion of the Bottle Bill, continued investment in the
Environmental Protection Fund, and commitment to protecting New York’s
parks, waterways and wildlife demonstrate our promise to improve the
lives of every day New Yorkers while also producing a balanced,
responsible budget.”
The Budget agreement breaks a 9-year
logjam in the Legislature to enact a “Bigger Better Bottle Bill.” The
bill improves upon the 1982 law by expanding the 5-cent deposit on
carbonated beverages, like beer and soda, to include bottled water.
Each year, nearly 2.5 billion bottles of water are sold in New York.
The proposal also mandates that the State retain 80 percent of
unclaimed bottle deposits. These deposits, previously held by beverage
companies, will provide New York with an additional $115 million in
annual revenue to help address the State’s fiscal crisis.
Senior Environmental Associate of the
New York Public Interest Research Group Laura Haight said: “The
expansion of the Bottle Bill would be one of New York’s most
significant environmental achievements of the past decade. Governor
Paterson deserves tremendous credit for his leadership and initiative
in this effort, which would boost recycling rates and make our
communities noticeably cleaner.”
Scenic Hudson President Ned
Sullivan said: “Governor Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Smith and
Speaker Silver have crafted a responsible budget that maintains vital
environmental investments. We commend Governor Paterson and Legislative
Leaders for boldly making the Bigger Better Bottle Bill a key budget
component in this agreement with the Legislature. These investments,
made through the Environmental Protection Fund, will safeguard our
majestic landscapes and Hudson Estuary – foundations of the region’s
economy – while safeguarding drinking water, sustaining farms, and
ensuring our waterfronts boost revitalization statewide. This is great
news for New York during our Quadricentennial year.”
Under the Budget agreement, New York will
also make critical investments through the Environmental Protection
Fund with appropriations of $222 million to ensure that programs
protecting New York’s water quality, open space, farmland and municipal
parks remain intact. For the first time, 40 percent of the parks and
waterfront revitalization funding will be targeted to underserved
communities, up from 25 percent from previous years.
The Budget agreement will also address the following environmental-related initiatives:
Land Preservation
New York will continue to pay full
property taxes on all land owned for preservation. This will provide
much needed revenue to local governments and allow the State to
continue to acquire and protect open space and ecologically significant
land across New York.
Hudson-Fulton Champlain Quadricentennial
This year, New York celebrates the 400th
anniversaries of the voyages of English Captain Henry Hudson and
Frenchman Samuel de Champlain, who led voyages along the Hudson River
and Lake Champlain, respectively. In commemoration of their
discoveries, and the 200th
anniversary of Robert Fulton’s maiden voyage up the Hudson River, the
“Walkway Over the Hudson” in Poughkeepsie will receive $8 million to
complete the project to transform the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge into
a spectacular park in the sky, the longest elevated walkway in the
world. In addition, $750,000 will be available to establish public
docks along the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. Finally, the Hudson
River Valley Greenway will continue operation, but with a 20 percent
spending reduction
Continued Operation of Ithaca Pheasant Farm and Other Conservation Efforts
The State-operated Reynolds Game Farm in
Ithaca will remain open through use of funds generated by increases to
hunting and fishing licensing fees. An estimated $16 million in revenue
from licensing fees will be dedicated to the Conservation Fund to
support fishing, hunting and trapping programs throughout the State, as
well as wildlife protection and pollution reduction programs.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 March 2009 08:07 |
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