NAACP Joins Fight Against Bottle Law Expansion

ALBANY, NY (03/19/2009)(readMedia)-- In a letter sent to New York Legislators, Hazel Dukes, the President of the NAACP New York State Conference has expressed her organization's opposition to bottle law expansion because it "is unfair ... is regressive and will place a disproportionate burden on the economically disadvantaged people of New York State."

Governor Paterson's bottle bill expansion proposal will result in cost increases to most beverages -- as much as 70% more for a case of some drinks. Increasing the cost of doing business in New York State will, ultimately, negatively impact the job security of thousands of New Yorkers.

"In addition to losing our homes, jobs and livelihoods, we, the people are faced with the added burden of a bill that would not only stress our already overwhelmed grocery stores with sanitation and storage problems, it would add the extra stigma of lugging bottles and cans to those stores and waiting on line to redeem money that was unjustly taken from us in the first place," said Dukes.

The NAACP joins a growing coalition of consumer, labor and business organization who are urging Governor Paterson and the legislature to consider alternatives to expanding bottle deposits in order to make a significant environmental difference without hurting average New Yorkers or businesses.

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New Yorkers for Real Recycling Reform is a coalition of New York consumers, businesses, labor unions and retailers, who believe that New York should look to comprehensive solutions - Real Recycling Reform - and not an outdated, ineffective and costly idea like bottle law expansion.