Senator Ryan Highlights Smart, Worker-Focused Reforms to Fix New York’s Bottle Deposit System
June 2, 2025
Standing alongside small business owner Miguel Lockhart at Hart’s Café & Deli this morning, State Senator Christopher J. Ryan highlighted his legislation, S7722, to modernize New York’s Bottle Deposit and Redemption System. The bill proposes smart, targeted reforms to address inefficiencies, crack down on fraud, support independent redemption centers, and protect jobs—without raising costs on working New Yorkers.
New York’s original Bottle Bill was enacted in 1982. While it helped reduce litter and improve recycling, it has not kept pace with changes in the beverage industry, recycling markets, or the economic realities facing small businesses and redemption centers. Each year, over $100 million in redeemable containers go unclaimed in New York—revenue lost not just to consumers but also to the state’s broader environmental goals.
“Our legislation is a practical solution to modernize New York's bottle deposit and redemption system," said Senator Ryan. “This bill makes necessary updates to the system by addressing its inefficiencies, fraud and providing a means of relief for redemption centers. But also, this proposal will protect thousands of good-paying jobs in our state that are impacted by sales, many of which are union jobs—jobs that New Yorkers rely on to support their families at a time when so many are struggling to get by.”
Key reforms included in Senate Bill S7722:
- No Increase in Deposit Fee: The bill maintains the current 5-cent deposit, keeping checkout costs stable for consumers and avoiding new burdens for local retailers.
- Targeted Anti-Fraud Measures: The bill closes costly loopholes that allow out-of-state containers to be illegally redeemed in New York, draining tens of millions of dollars annually from the system.
- Phased Expansion of Coverage: The legislation creates a clear and responsible path to include additional types of beverage containers—only once the redemption infrastructure is ready to handle them.
- Support for Independent Redemption Centers: The bill establishes a dedicated fund to help small, independent redemption centers—especially those in rural and environmental justice communities—remain viable and accessible.
- Job Protection: With tens of thousands of New Yorkers working across the beverage supply chain—from bottling plants and warehouses to trucks and retail—this legislation is crafted to protect the good-paying, often union, jobs that power the industry.
Miguel Lockhart, owner of Hart’s Cafe & Deli said, “New Yorkers want a bottle deposit system that works and will keep the cost of beverages down—and this bill is a major step forward. In a time of unprecedented division in politics, this is a great example of the kinds of solutions we can achieve when we all work together.”
New Yorkers for Better Recycling (NYBR) has endorsed this legislation, saying, “The current redemption system is failing and local businesses are bearing the brunt of the failure. Senator Ryan and Assemblymember Septimo’s legislation brings common sense solutions to a broken system in a way that doesn’t increase costs on consumers or our mom and pop shops.”
Senate Bill S7722 has been referred to the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee. A companion bill was introduced in the Assembly by Assemblymember Amanda Septimo (AD-84).
For more information on the bill or to provide input, constituents are encouraged to contact Senator Ryan’s Albany office or visit www.chrisryan.nysenate.gov.
