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NY S07722
Bill
Status
5/1/2025
Primary Sponsor
Christopher Ryan
Click for details
AI Summary
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Expands the definition of "beverage" to include all noncarbonated drinks (excluding spirits, wine, dairy-based beverages, drugs, infant formula, and meal replacements) and increases the container size limit from one gallon to three liters for returnable containers
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Allows small dealers (under 10,000 square feet) whose primary business is food/beverage sales to obtain exemptions from accepting empty containers if they have agreements with redemption centers within 2 miles (or 5 miles in rural areas) that operate at least 35 hours weekly
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Establishes a tiered handling fee structure: 3 cents per container under commingling agreements, 3.5 cents for reverse vending machine redemptions, and 4.5 cents for all other redemptions (replacing the flat 3.5 cent fee)
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Creates a commingling system allowing deposit initiators representing at least 35% of beverage container sales to sort containers by size and material type rather than by brand, subject to department approval
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Allocates $12 million annually for three years to support small redemption centers (under 2 million containers/year) in rural areas and environmental justice communities through supplemental handling fees or grants
Legislative Description
Relates to returnable beverage containers; amends certain definitions relating thereto; repeals a certain provision of law relating thereto; provides that a dealer whose place of business is less than ten thousand square feet and whose primary business is the sale of food or beverages for consumption off-premises may obtain an exemption from the obligation to accept empty beverage containers for redemption under certain conditions; provides for different handling fees for beverage containers accepter by a deposit initiator from a dealer or operator of a redemption center; provides that a deposit initiator shall have the right to conduct audits of containers presented for redemption by redemption centers or dealers subject to certain provisions; provides requirements for groups of deposit initiators and brands to form a commingling group; relates to provisions governing redemption centers.
Last Action
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
1/7/2026