ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Two arrests were made outside of the New York State Executive Mansion in Albany Monday morning after protestors dumped a truckload of cans and bottles at the gate. Employees from bottle redemption centers across the state gathered to dump the multiple days’ worth of waste, in an effort to send a message.
“I am here today to deliver a pile of what is considered my unpaid labor because Governor Hochul refuses to address this crisis,” said Jade Eddy, owner of MT Renewables.
Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox!
Eddy protested for the state to pass the Bottle Bill and pay redemption center employees for their work.
“Our people are losing jobs, everybody is hurting, and our governor is doing absolutely nothing,” said Eddy.
In New York, when you return water bottles and carbonated drink containers, you get five cents back. The Bigger Better Bottle Bill would expand the list of beverages eligible for a deposit. It would also up the refund value to ten cents.
Eddy was inspired to act Monday on her late father’s birthday. Her father founded the company, and she said he lived his last years continuing to advocate for the bill.
“I have lost my home; I have lost my father,” Eddy described. “He died waiting for this legislation to pass. That was five years ago. We now have 200 redemption centers shut down because they have not taken action. That is 6.5 times the number of businesses that we started with three years ago.”
Eddy was joined by Peter Sidote, who owns All Deposit in Long Island. He said that redemption center employees cannot survive off their wages any longer without a change.
Download our WTEN+ streaming app on Roku, Fire TV and Apple TV!
“I’ve been here for four years begging for a little more handling, and it’s time for a dime,” said Sidote. “There’s no accountability.”
They were also joined by Jessica Amidon, who works at a local redemption center. Amidon said because of the increase in volume at her location, she has only had four days off total in the past nine months.
“There are some of our legislators that are on board, and then there’s others that don’t understand the difference between a deposit or the handling fee,” explained Amidon. “That is disheartening since the ones that make the rules don’t know enough.”
Protestors removed the waste after Sidote and Eddy were arrested at the scene. Eddy’s U-Haul rental was towed after she was asked to move the vehicle and refused. In response to the events, Governor Hochul’s office said that she will review the legislation if it passes both houses.
Read the latest from NEWS10:
NEWS10 is the Capital Region’s local news leader!