By unanimous vote, the New York Assembly on Monday approved additional funding for conservation efforts across the state.

NYLCV helped support an advertising campaign this year around the Environmental Protection Fund.Encapsulated in legislation called the "Environmental Protection Fund Enhancement Act," the measure now goes to the State Senate, where he Finance Committee will begin discussing it. 

The Environmental Protection Fund (or EPF for short) is the centerpiece of the state's conservation efforts, funding everything from drinking-water protection to municipal parks and local recycling programs. There is well over $1 billion worth of projects that need EPF support in the state, but the program is currently funded at just $134 million year year. 

That would change with the legislation now under consideration. The EPF Enhancement Act would phase-in unclaimed bottle deposits over several years, to raise the overall amount of money that can be spent on environmental projects. 

This is one of NYLCV's top priorities of the legislative session.

According to Assemblyman George Latimer, the bill sponsor, this legislation would provide a net increase in the amount of funds from New York's "Bottle Bill" without altering the existing rights, duties or obligations of businesses or individuals participating in the beverage container deposit refund system.
"New York's "bottle bill" is one of the State's most successful recycling and anti-litter initiatives," Assemblyman Latimer explained.

"There is less litter and broken glass in our streets, fields, playgrounds, parks, and beaches as a result of the bottle bill. It has also reduced the burden of solid waste disposal that is shouldered by local governments and taxpayers."

Our thanks to the Assembly for approving this legislation, and we look forward to working with the State Senate to approving it in the upper house of the Legislature.