S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3390
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 23, 2017
___________
Introduced by Sen. GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
mandatory acceptance of empty beverage containers
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 and subdivision 2 of section
27-1007 of the environmental conservation law, as added by section 4 of
part SS of chapter 59 of the laws of 2009, are amended to read as
follows:
(a) A dealer shall accept at his or her place of business, PROVIDED
THAT SUCH PLACE OF BUSINESS IS NOT LESS THAN TWO THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OR
SUCH PLACE OF BUSINESS IS NOT LESS THAN FIVE THOUSAND SQUARE FEET WHEN
LICENSED UNDER ARTICLE TWENTY-C OF THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW OR
THAT SUCH PLACE OF BUSINESS IS NOT LOCATED IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION
OF ONE MILLION OR MORE, from a redeemer any empty beverage containers of
the design, shape, size, color, composition and brand sold or offered
for sale by the dealer, and shall pay to the redeemer the refund value
of each such beverage container as established in section 27-1005 of
this title. Redemptions of refund value must be in legal tender, or a
scrip or receipt from a reverse vending machine, provided that the scrip
or receipt can be exchanged for legal tender for a period of not less
than sixty days without requiring the purchase of other goods. The use
or presence of a reverse vending machine shall not relieve a dealer of
any obligations imposed pursuant to this section. If a dealer utilizes a
reverse vending machine to redeem containers, the dealer shall provide
redemption of beverage containers when the reverse vending machine is
full, broken, under repair or does not accept a type of beverage
container sold or offered for sale by such dealer and may not limit the
hours or days of redemption except as provided by subdivision three of
this section.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00241-01-7
S. 3390 2
2. A dealer shall post a conspicuous sign, at the point of sale, that
states:
"NEW YORK BOTTLE BILL OF RIGHTS
STATE LAW REQUIRES US TO REDEEM EMPTY RETURNABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS OF
THE SAME TYPE AND BRAND THAT WE SELL OR OFFER FOR SALE
YOU HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS UNDER THE NEW YORK STATE RETURNABLE CONTAINER
ACT:
THE RIGHT to return your empties for refund to any dealer who sells
the same brand, type and size, whether you bought the beverage from the
dealer or not, PROVIDED SUCH DEALER'S PLACE OF BUSINESS IS LARGER THAN
TWO THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OR SUCH DEALER'S PLACE OF BUSINESS IS LARGER
THAN FIVE THOUSAND SQUARE FEET WHEN LICENSED UNDER ARTICLE TWENTY-C OF
THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW OR THAT SUCH PLACE OF BUSINESS IS NOT
LOCATED IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE. It is ille-
gal to return containers for refund that you did not pay a deposit on in
New York state.
THE RIGHT to get your deposit refund in cash, without proof of
purchase.
THE RIGHT to return your empties any day, any hour, except for the
first and last hour of the dealer's business day (empty containers may
be redeemed at any time in 24-hour stores).
THE RIGHT to return your containers if they are empty and intact.
Washing containers is not required by law, but is strongly recommended
to maintain sanitary conditions.
The New York state returnable container act can be enforced by the New
York state department of environmental conservation, the New York state
department of agriculture and markets, the New York state department of
taxation and finance, the New York state attorney general and/or by your
local government."
Such sign must be no less than eight inches by ten inches in size and
have lettering a minimum of one quarter inch high, and of a color which
contrasts with the background. The department shall maintain a toll free
telephone number for a "bottle bill complaint line" that shall be avail-
able from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each business day to receive reports of
violations of this title. The telephone number shall be listed on any
sign required by this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.