Statement From New Yorkers For Real Recycling Reform

ALBANY, NY (01/07/2009)(readMedia)-- Governor Paterson has done an excellent job drawing attention to the State's fiscal crisis and we applaud his efforts to address the State's problems.

But, quite simply, taxing grocery bills during these difficult economic times will only make things worse for average New Yorker families.

Governor Paterson's proposal to expand the bottle deposit law to include virtually every product in the beverage aisle and seizing the unclaimed deposits is nothing more than a food tax that will impact average New Yorkers already struggling with increased food costs and other economic hardships.

Coupled with the proposal to place a tax on soda and more than double the excise tax on beer (from 11 cents/gallon to 24 cents), this budget unfairly targets average New Yorkers and will result in significant price increases for products that most New Yorkers consume.

The expanded bottle deposit tax will increase the cost of beverages at least $.15 per container for bottles of beverages such as kids' juice drinks, iced teas, sports drinks, bottled water, etc. Only $.05 will be refundable. Coupled with the proposed 18% tax on soda and vastly increased excise tax on beer, food costs will skyrocket as a result.

Proposing tax increases is bad enough but hiding them behind the guise of environmental proposals or healthy initiatives is a cynical approach to revenue generation.

New Yorkers should expect better than to have their political leaders try to trick them into accepting tax increases on their grocery bills which will provide us no economic, environmental or health benefits.

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and retailers, who believe that New York should look to comprehensive solutions - Real Recycling Reform - and not an outdated, ineffective and costly idea like bottle law expansion.