Advocates in New York are intensifying their campaign for the long-delayed Bigger Better Bottle Bill, which seeks to double the state’s bottle deposit from five to ten cents. This change aims to not only benefit the city’s canners—individuals who collect bottles and cans for redemption—but also to alleviate street litter.
Since its introduction in 1982, the five-cent deposit has remained fixed, and proponents argue it’s time for an update. Sure We Can, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that operates a container redemption center and advocates for canners’ rights, is backing the bill alongside many others.
The proposed legislation includes three primary changes: increasing the deposit amount to ten cents, broadening the types of containers eligible for redemption, and raising the handling fee that beverage distributors pay to redemption centers from 3.5 cents. Although there is growing support for the bill, it has stalled in Albany for four consecutive years and currently awaits decisions from House and Assembly committees.
The debate over increasing the bottle deposit is a major sticking point among lawmakers, canner advocates, and the beverage industry. The American Beverage Association argues that raising the deposit would impose additional costs on consumers and local businesses already facing rising prices for housing and food.
Instead, they support a revised bill that maintains the five-cent deposit while allocating more funds to redemption centers, which they believe would gradually improve the recycling system without further financial burden. However, advocates for the original proposal insist that the deposit increase is essential for the bill’s effectiveness and that public sentiment supports their cause.
A Siena College poll revealed that 61% of New Yorkers favor raising the bottle deposit, showing bipartisan backing for the initiative.
Canners play a crucial, often undervalued role in New York City’s waste management system. Estimates suggest there are at least 10,000 canners in the city, gathering redeemable beverage containers from sidewalks, trash bins, and recycling bags to exchange them for the five-cent deposit.
According to a 2023 study, canners represent a diverse workforce, with equal numbers of men and women and a significant portion identifying as Black or Latino. Many canners, aged around 54 on average, typically face barriers to traditional employment, such as health challenges or lack of documentation.
While anyone can can, the work is arduous and entails various health and safety risks. A recent encounter with canners in the South Bronx highlighted the difficult conditions they endure. Some canners, like Zulma, a retired cleaning worker, reported earnings of $60 to $70 a week from canning, a task that can take days to accomplish.
Most participants work around 25 hours per week, and a majority earn $100 or less. As the cost of living rises, many canners supplement their income or depend solely on canning, yet the low five-cent deposit yields minimal financial return compared to the effort and risks involved.
Zulma voiced concerns about safety while canning, especially for women, reflecting the risks inherent in the job. Despite fears, she and others continue their work, with Zulma observing that women work particularly hard in this field.
The Bigger Better Bottle Bill not only supports canners but also offers potential financial and environmental benefits for New York City and the state, according to advocates. Modernizing the bottle deposit system could save municipalities millions while boosting recycling rates.
Currently, New York’s recycling system sees an estimated 70% redemption rate. Raising the deposit could lead to improvements similar to Oregon, where increasing the deposit to ten cents in 2017 resulted in a significant jump in redemption rates.
Additionally, the proposed bill aims to expand the list of redeemable containers. As the beverage market has transformed since 1982, many products, including popular drinks like Gatorade and Snapple, remain ineligible for deposits, often ending up in landfills or as litter.
Despite the efforts, the beverage industry remains opposed to increasing the deposit. Concerns have been raised about the burdens on consumers, especially working families, as well as potential fraud issues that could arise from a higher deposit. They argue that raising the handling fee for distributors wouldn’t address the systemic shortcomings in New York’s recycling program.
Advocates counter that industry concerns about fraud are exaggerated, asserting that resistance from corporations poses a greater obstacle than the fraud itself. Sean Castalia, executive director of Sure We Can, emphasized that the bill primarily benefits the communities rather than corporations.
Canners, as observed in a recent visit, navigate a largely unregulated and informal work environment. Many rely on a community system where they collect bottles and cans and trade them for cash with drivers who transport the materials for recycling. Proximity to redemption centers is becoming increasingly scarce; for example, there are no centers available in Manhattan at present.
With increasing distances and declining numbers of redemption centers, canners like Zulma expressed frustration over their lack of support from elected officials. Castalia concurred that garnering institutional support forms a significant challenge amidst competing priorities.
Despite the hurdles, there is a collective sense of purpose within the canning community. Individuals like Zulma and others remain hopeful for change, underscoring the necessity of raising the bottle deposit to ten cents as a central goal of their advocacy. As Maria Elena and Carlos from the South Bronx concluded, the meager earnings from the current deposit are insufficient.
Many canners are not just concerned about their financial well-being but also how their efforts contribute to the community environment. This is all rooted in the fundamental principle of sustainability, ensuring that bottle and can redemption works effectively for all, not just for corporate entities.
As the initiative moves forward, supporters hope that legislative changes will recognize the dedication of the canning community and bring about a more equitable and effective bottle redemption system for New York.
image source from：https://www.bxtimes.com/bronx-canners-back-push-to-double-bottle-deposit-from-5-to-10-cents/
