BILL NUMBER: S4410
SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
beverage container handling fees paid to dealers or operators of redemp-
tion centers; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expi-
ration thereof
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to temporarily increase the handling fee
given to beverage container redemption centers from 3.5 cents per
container to 4.5 cents per container.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The bill amends subdivision 6 of section 27-1007 of the environmental
conservation law to increase the handling fee that redemption centers
receive from deposit initiators (distributors) for beverage containers
which are subject to a deposit. The fee increases the handling fee from
3.5 cents per beverage container to 4.5 cents. The provisions are
subject to a sunset date of December 31, 2026.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The bill's increase in handling fee from 3.5 cents per container to 4.5
cents is intended to provide the first increase in this fee in decades
and prevent further closure by other redemption centers that are strug-
gling to stay in business. There are reports of closures of up to 100
redemptions centers across the state due to financial hardship. Addi-
tionally, and in advance of a future expansion of the types of beverage
containers which may be returned for deposit, this measure will provide
a critical lifeline to redemption centers and help them meet labor and
infrastructure needs.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024 - S.6968-B (May)
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately and expires as of December 31, 2027.

Statutes affected:
S4410: 27-1007 environmental conservation law, 27-1007(6) environmental conservation law