NY S09164

Expands the definition of "beverage" to include wine, liquor, distilled spirit coolers, cider and wine products, noncarbonated soft drinks, fruit or vegetable juices containing less than 100 percent juice, and coffee and tea beverages effective April 1, 2025.

Increases the beverage container refund value from 5 cents to 10 cents beginning April 1, 2025.

Raises the handling fee paid by deposit initiators to dealers and redemption centers from 3.5 cents to 6 cents per container, effective April 1, 2025.

Requires glass beverage containers to contain minimum 35 percent post-consumer glass (effective January 1, 2025), aluminum containers 35 percent post-consumer aluminum, PET containers 25 percent post-consumer PET (effective January 1, 2028), and all plastic containers 30 percent post-consumer plastic (effective January 1, 2030).

Authorizes the Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Taxation and Finance to audit reverse vending machines and grants deposit initiators with refillable or state-specific UPC code containers reduced payment obligations (75 percent instead of 80 percent) until April 1, 2027.