Environmental advocates were in Albany Monday making the case that investing in the state's natural resources is good economic sense.
Representatives from more than 50 organizations were at the Capitol to support the state's Environmental Protection Fund (or EPF). The fund covers a variety of programs - from parks and recreation to waterfront revitalization. This year, the governor¿s proposed budget keeps EPF funding flat, at 134 million dollars.
Jessica Ottney Mahar is with the Nature Conservancy of New York. She says one way to increase funding to the EPF is through the five cent bottle deposit- which goes into the state's General Fund, if it is not collected by the consumer.
"The right thing to do would be to dedicate that funding to programs that actually support the environment."
Environmental advocates also cited a new study from the Public Land Trust, which found the EPF produces a 7 to 1 return on the state's investment.
This story comes from the Innovation Trail. Learn more at InnovationTrail.org