Coalition against expanded bottle-deposit program
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- November
- 12
  Pegging their argument to the poor economy, a group called New Yorkers for Real Recycling Reform put out a statement today calling Gov. David Paterson’s plan to expand the bottle-deposit program a “cynical food tax.” Implementing would unfairly hit New Yorkers “already struggling with increased food costs and other economic hardships,” said the coalition, which is made up of businesses, labor unions and retailers.
  In his proposal today to cut $2 billion from the state budget, Paterson called adding water bottles and other non-carbonated beverages to the bottle-deposit program. He also wants the state to keep unclaimed deposits.
  New Yorkers for Real Recycling Reform said expanding the 5-cent bottle tax would result in a price increase of up to 15 cents per bottle on beverages like kids’ juice drinks, iced teas and sports drinks because businesses would have to pass extra costs onto consumers. The new tax on those products would increase the number of bottles businesses would have to handle and remove money from the system that businesses use to pay for the state-mandated program, the group said.
  “And, at a time that thousands of New Yorkers’ jobs are at risk, the governor’s proposal will put even more New York jobs in jeopardy,” the statement said.
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on Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 at 8:03 pm by Cara Matthews.
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Benjamin Franklin said, so wisely, “The best way to help the poor. . .is to NOT be one of them.”
Let the poor move, or otherwise get with the program, and stop complaining.
But arguing over bottle deposits—that’s beneath dignity.