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TODAY, A LEGISLATIVE HEARING WAS HELD ON THE NEW ARE CALLING FOR BOTTLE DEPOSITS TO BE INCREASED. OUR CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT JAMIE DELINE TELLS US WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO, AND HOW IT COULD HELP REDEMPTION CENTERS.
3 REDEMPTION CENTERS IN NEW YORK STATE ARE STRUGGLING. "I am losing my house because of this," LEGISLATIVE HEARING. JADE EDDY, OWNER OF MT RETURNABLES, PLEADED WITH LAWMAKERS TO ACT QUICKLY BY INCREASING THE HANDLING FEE THAT SHE SAYS WILL HELP BUSINESSES LIKE HERS KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN. "we are crucial to the system, and without us, this system fails."
CURRENTLY, THAT HANDLING FEE IS INCLUDED IN THE BETTER BOTTLE BILL. A BILL THAT WOULD RAISE BOTTLE DEPOTS FROM 5 CENTS TO 10 CENTS. "we need to raise the deposit from $.05 cents to $.10 because the redemption centers can pay making from the current system."
THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO EXPAND THE TYPES OF BOTTLES YOU COULD GET A DEPOSIT FOR. "what we need now is a lot more liquor, and a real problem for recyclers." IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE SPORTS DRINK BOTTLES. ADVOCATES SAY THIS BILL WILL HELP THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL.
BUT NOT EVERYONE IS TOTALLY ON BOARD WITH THE LEGISLATION. "the smaller liquor stores, for example are concerned because they would have to take bottles back and many of them have very little space." "So we have a companion bill to support more reverse vending machines and we have changed the wording, so that very small operations can team up with grocery stores and have most of the recovery be done elsewhere."
DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF ADVOCATES, THE BILL DID NOT GET PASSED DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. EDDY IS NOW CALLING FOR THE HANDLING FEE TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE BOTTLE BILL, AND FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO BE HELD SINCE THE SITUATION IS SO DIRE. SHE SHARES THIS MESSAGE FOR NEW YORKERS.
"support your small redemption centers if you have one in your area. If we can try to make up for time and volume you might be able to get us January if they are going to make us wait."
THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS ON JANUARY 3RD. REPORTING IN ALBANY, I JAMIE DELINE.
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IN MORE NEWS OUT OF ALBANY... THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S OFFICE OF DRUG USER HEALTH IS IMPLEMENTING FOUR DRUG CHECKING PROGRAMS --