The Cost Of Drinking Could Go Up In New York

The next time you go to buy a drink at the store, it could cost you more here in New York State.

There is a new proposed bill that would increase the amount of deposit stores collect on bottles and cans across the Empire State.

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The new bill calls for an increase of 5 cents per bottle deposit raising the new amount to 10 cents per bottle. The bills would also increase the price for the handling fee of the bottles to 6 cents.

The purpose of this bill is to incentivize more recycling of beverage containers, and thereby reduce solid waste, through expansion of eligible containers for a deposit and redemption under the current Bottle Bill. The bill would raise the deposit refund value to ten cents, raise the handling fee to six cents, and improve the redemption process through implementation of grants to establish new redemption centers and for the purchase of reverse vending machines.

This proposed bill would also include wine bottles, cider bottles and cans, liquor, distilled spirit coolers, and cider to the definition of "beverage".

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The current "Bottle Bill" was signed into law in 1982 and required a 5-cent deposit to be collected for every bottle and cans sold in New York excluding certain bottles like wine and hard liquor bottles.

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The proposed "Bottle Bill" could become law as soon as January 1st, 2026 if it gets passed through the New York Senate and House.