Bottle and Can Deposit Returns

A retail store or dealer is a location that sells beverage containers to a consumer for off-premises consumption. 

A store must accept a container to return a deposit if:

• it is an empty beverage container of the design, shape, size, color, composition and brand sold or offered for sale by the dealer from a redeemer and pay the full refund value. 
  • For example, if a store carries only the 16 oz. container of a brand’s product. A retail store does not have to redeem other sizes of that brand. or containers from other brands that it doesn't carry.
• the container has a proper New York refund label.
• the container is in reasonably good condition. Containers need to be in one piece and neither corroded nor crushed.
• the container is clean besides small amounts of dirt, dust or moisture.

A redemption center is a facility that is registered to take back deposit containers. Their main job is collecting, sorting, and paying out refunds on New York State bottles and cans covered under the New York State Returnable Container Act.

A Redemption Center may accept a container to return a deposit if:

• The container has a proper New York refund label.
• The container is in reasonably good condition. Containers need to be in one piece and neither corroded nor crushed.
• The container is clean besides small amounts of dirt, dust or moisture.

• Carbonated Soft Drinks, including Sparkling Water
• Carbonated Energy Drinks
• Carbonated Juice (anything less than 100% juice, containing added sugar or water)
• Carbonated Tea
• Soda Water
• Beer and Other Malt Beverages
• Mineral Water - Both carbonated and non-carbonated mineral water
• Wine Products
• Water which does not contain sugar, including flavored or nutritionally enhanced water

• Milk Products
• Wine, Liquor and Spirits
• Hard Ciders
• Non-Carbonated Tea
• Non-Carbonated Sports Drinks
• Non-Carbonated Juice
• Non-Carbonated Energy Drinks
• Beverages in Drink Boxes or Pouches
• Waters Containing Sugar

To determine if a water product has added sugars.

First, determine if the product is identified as a water through the use of symbols, letters or words. Then, check the nutrition label to see if sugar has been added. If "Nutrition Facts" label indicates:

• "Sugars" is 0 grams, then the water requires a deposit
• "Sugars" is more than 0 grams, no deposit is required.

There may be limited exceptions to this generalization. Please contact DEC if you think "a beverage identified as a type of water to which sugar has been added" does not conform to this general principle.

• An individual, separate, sealed glass, metal, aluminum, steel or plastic bottle, can or jar;
• Containers less than 1 gallon or 3.78 liters, and
• Containers of beverages intended for use or consumption in New York.

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. It is illegal 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. To report a violation, call 1-877-846-8802 (9am - 5pm M-F).