Controversial New York bottle bill temporary blocked
A federal judge has temporarily blocked a new law requiring all bottled beverages sold in New York, including beer, to have a distinctive bar code so recyclers know which bottles qualify for the five-cent redeemable deposit. The law was to take affect June 1.
Federal Judge Thomas Griesa issued an order after a hearing yesterday that will stop enforcement of the law while a lawsuit proceeds.
Water bottlers had sued New York officials after they authorized the new law, which expanded 5-cent deposits beyond carbonated beverages, wine coolers and beer.
Some brewers had threatened to pull their brands out of the state rather than incur the cost of a New York specific label.