Bottle Carries Students' Messages to Lawmaker
CSI chapter of New York Public Interest Group lobbies Sen. Lanza for 'Bigger Better Bottle Bill' 

Staten Island Advance - Thursday, December 13, 2007

A message in a bottle landed in the hands of state Sen. Andrew Lanza yesterday, but it didn't wash up on shore.

Instead, Lanza (R-South Shore) was lobbied by students in the College of Staten Island chapter of the New York Public Interest Group, which supports the so-called "Bigger Better Bottle Bill."

To make their point, the students, who believe that the bill would increase recycling rates and reduce litter, presented Lanza with nearly three dozen letters in support of the legislation in an oversized plastic bottle.

The bill would extend the 5-cent bottle deposit to non-carbonated beverages such as bottled water, teas and sports drinks.

"This bill would give people an incentive to return the bottles instead of just throwing them to the side of the road," said Benjamin DeAngelis, NYPIRG project coordinator, who was among those who met with Lanza yesterday.

But Lanza pointed out that Islanders already recycle more than residents in the other four boroughs and contended the expanded deposit could end up being just another tax on residents here if they recycle the bottles but don't return them for the deposit.

"We have to be careful," Lanza said. "We want to make sure we don't additionally tax the hardworking families of Staten Island."

Supporters say that expanding the deposit could pump another $190 million a year into the New York State Environmental Protection Fund.

Albany lawmakers have yet to decide if they will take up the bottle bill during the next legislative session.

By Tom Wrobleski
Reprinted here with permission from the