The Crisis at New York's Redemption Centers: A Call for Bottle Bill Reform

By William Duke

DELAWARE COUNTY — "Business is tough,” says Dutchie van Dijk of Dutch’s Cans and Return Center in Franklin, capturing the dire struggle facing redemption centers across the state. In New York, these vital hubs for returning cans and bottles are grappling with a severe financial crisis that threatens their survival. Since 2008, 52% of standalone redemption centers—approximately 1,200 out of 2,300—have closed statewide, with over 160 shuttering in the past two years alone, resulting in the loss of over 700 jobs.

In Delaware County, specific closure numbers are harder to pin down, but the region has seen losses, leaving communities like Andes, Margaretville, and Roxbury with only their municipal transfer stations, open only on limited days per week. Driven by stagnant handling fees and rising operational costs, many operators, like van Dijk, are struggling to stay afloat. As Jade Eddy, owner of MT Returnables in Queensbury, has noted, the fiscal alarm has been sounding for years with little response from state lawmakers. A stark example is the closure of a redemption center in Marathon, NY, a small village in Cortland County, which left residents without a convenient local option for returning deposits, further straining community recycling access. This crisis is worsened by a growing public perception—fueled by beverage industry misinformation—that recycling itself is a “scam,” discouraging participation and undermining the very system redemption centers depend on.

Delaware County, home to Dutch’s Cans and Return Center in Franklin, rely heavily on redemption services to manage beverage container returns. While Franklin, Walton (with three redemption centers plus the county landfill and reprocessing center), and Delhi (served by Price Chopper) retain some access, communities like Andes, Margaretville, and Roxbury face greater challenges, dependent on municipal transfer stations with limited hours that discourage participation and exacerbate litter in remote areas. In New York State, 32-35% of deposit-eligible bottles and cans go unredeemed, representing roughly 1.8 billion containers annually. At 5 cents per container, this translates to approximately $90 million in unclaimed deposits each year, with 80% ($72 million) going to the state and 20% ($18 million) to beverage distributors, these are funds that could support recycling infrastructure if redirected to redemption centers.

The notion that “recycling doesn’t work” is not entirely baseless but is heavily exaggerated by industry-driven Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD). While recycling metals and glass boasts high success rates—aluminum cans achieve 50-60% recycling rates, and glass can be recycled infinitely—plastics, especially beverage bottles, lag behind at a dismal 20-30%. Investigative reports reveal that beverage giants like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have known since the 1970s that large-scale plastic recycling is uneconomical but promoted it through campaigns to avoid bans on single-use plastics. By funding groups like the American Beverage Association, they’ve spread narratives blaming consumers for litter while opposing deposit systems that boost recycling to 80%+ in states with strong bottle bills. This FUD discourages public trust in recycling, reducing returns to redemption centers and accelerating closures, as fewer containers are processed.

At the heart of the solution is an update to New York's Bottle Bill, formally known as the Returnable Container Act, which has remained largely unchanged since 1982. The current law imposes a 5-cent deposit on certain beverages like carbonated soft drinks but excludes many others, such as non-carbonated juices, teas, wines, and liquors. The proposed reforms, often dubbed the "Bigger Better Bottle Bill," aims to expand coverage to nearly all beverages under 3 liters, double the deposit to 10 cents, and increase the handling fee paid to redemption centers from 3.5 cents to 6 cents per container. These changes would boost revenue for centers by attracting more returns and providing better compensation for processing, potentially reversing closures and creating jobs. Environmental groups like New Yorkers for Better Bottle Bills argue that passing the bill could raise the state’s recycling rate from its current 65-68% average, reduce roadside litter, and support environmental justice by diverting waste from overburdened communities. With a robust deposit system, New York could restore public confidence in recycling, ensuring centers like Dutch’s thrive.

Despite broad support from environmental groups like New Yorkers for Better Bottle Bills, and some industry stakeholders, the bill has stalled in Albany. As of mid-2025, multiple versions—like S7722A and S5684—were introduced but failed to advance through the legislative session. Key reasons include opposition from beverage industry lobbyists, particularly alcohol producers wary of expanded deposits on wine and spirits, which they claim could raise consumer prices. These same groups amplify FUD to weaken support for recycling reforms, protecting their profits at the expense of environmental progress. A crowded legislative agenda, with competing priorities like extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws, has also diluted focus. Redemption center operators like Eddy argue there’s a lack of political will, as evidenced by repeated delays despite urgent pleas from those on the front lines of recycling.

Without action, New York's redemption system risks further collapse, undermining decades of environmental progress. Passing an updated Bottle Bill isn’t just about saving businesses—it’s about countering industry misinformation and fostering a sustainable future for the state. Lawmakers must prioritize this reform before more redemption centers vanish. Residents of Delaware County can make a difference by contacting their state legislator to urge support for the bill. Write or call Assemblyman Chris Tague, who represents District 102 (including Franklin, Delhi, and Walton), at 45 Five Mile Woods Rd, Suite 3, Catskill, NY 12414, phone: 518-943-1371, or email: taguec@nyassembly.gov. Your voice can help push for change and combat the FUD that threatens recycling’s future.