NEW YORK LEGISLATORS HAVE FAILED THE NEW YORK BOTTLE BILL

Bottle redemption centers around the state are closing in record numbers due to the State legislator’s inability to understand simple accounting. The industry, that pays back consumers 5 cents for each used beverage container, has not seen an increase in handling fees from the State since 2009. That’s right, not a single pay rise in 13 years. Can you imagine the legislators not giving themselves a pay rise in 13 years? The State would save a bundle.

From 2016 till present, the minimum wage has increased 6 times from $9.70 per hour to $13.20, as the State heads to the livable minimum wage of $15.00 per hour. Labor is the biggest expense to operate a Redemption Center. But have the centers received a raise in handling fees? NO!

Now we all believe in the livable minimum wage, however, without an offset to higher labor rates, the redemption industry, we cannot exist much longer. In the past 3 years, 54% of the redemption companies have closed their doors for good. That is hundreds of companies with thousands of jobs. GONE! Many of my colleagues in the industry, as well as our company have reached out to our Legislators to explain the problem, only to fall on Deaf ears. In fact for 3 years now, we have called on Assemblyman Billy Jones and Senator Dan Stec, only to speak to their staff. Never, has either of them, given us a call or stopped in to understand the problem. That is poor representation. Redemption Centers receive 3.5 cents per container for handling the units. The Legislators think that the centers just count containers, pay the consumer for the units, then TA-DA, we get 3.5 cents on top of the nickel we hand out. When in reality, we have to sort the units by brand, then further separate the type of container (plastic, aluminum, or glass) . Then we have to separate them further by size of unit, (10 ounce, 12 ounce, 16, ounce, 1 liter, 2 liters, and 3 liters). Now keep in mind that there are over 42 different brands of water. Then we have to count each separated unite to a certain number count, and bag them before we can send them out for recycling. Sounds like a ton of work right? IT IS! I WISH THE STATE LEGISLATORS WORKED HALF AS HARD AS WE DO FOR PENNYS.

We were just told recently by an assembly staff member that we are getting a 1.5 cent raise, but it will not take effect until December 31, 2022. Only unconcerned law makers would pass such a bill. Do they wait over a year to take their pay raise after they vote it in? GET REAL!

First of all, a 1.5 cent per container raise is a disproportionate raise compared to the minimum wage increase. Second, we have to wait until December 31 of this year before it starts. Remember, it’s the first increase in handling fees in 13 years.

The redemption centers in NY need a 4 cent raise per container at the minimum, and it needs the raise to start RIGHT NOW!

So If you believe in recycling, and like the convenience of going to a redemption center for your money, call your legislator and ask why has this issue not been addressed.

I would love to hear a reply from MY legislators or the Madam Governor on this issue. Bottle redemptions centers are now losing money on a daily biases from Law that Legislators made, and we handle for the general public.

We will write another article next week to let you know what Legislator stepped up to the plate on this issue.

Tim Carter & Travis Pritchard

TAP BOTTLE CO. LLC | Malone, NY | 518-483-2220