Relates to the handling fee paid to a dealer or operator of a redemption center for the redemption of empty beverage containers

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Gary Pretlow

A 7103 would change how the handling fee paid to beverage container redemption centers is calculated, affecting centers' viability and access for consumers.

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Summary: Assembly Bill A 7103

Overview

Bill Number: A 7103

Title: Relates to the handling fee paid to a dealer or operator of a redemption center for the redemption of empty beverage containers

Sponsor: J. Gary Pretlow (primary)

Status / Action: Referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation (introduced March 20, 2025). The bill has an identical referral noted twice in the legislative actions provided.

Introduced: March 20, 2025

Related Bills (prior sessions): A 6816, A 6057, A 2165, A 3590

Purpose and intent

The bill focuses on the handling fee paid to dealers or operators of redemption centers for redeeming empty beverage containers. While the exact text is not provided here, the title indicates the bill would modify how such handling fees are determined, set, or paid within New York’s beverage container redemption framework.

Key provisions (as implied by the title)

The bill would propose changes to the calculation, rate, structure, or administration of the handling fee paid to redemption centers and/or dealers.

Potential areas that could be addressed (based on the bill’s scope) include:

The rate or formula used to determine the handling fee per container or per transaction.
Eligibility or qualifications for redemption centers to receive the fee.
Payment timing, frequency, and verification requirements for centers.
Adjustments to the fee in response to inflation, costs, or program changes.

Note: The exact provisions, calculations, and any accompanying implementation details would be found in the bill’s text and any fiscal notes once released.

Affected parties and potential impact

Directly affected:

Dealers and operators of beverage container redemption centers (receiving the handling fee).

Indirectly affected:

Beverage producers/distributors and retailers who participate in the container redemption system.
Local governments or authorities administering redemption programs.
Consumers, by influencing the efficiency and availability of redemption options.

Potential impacts:

If fees are increased, redemption centers may have stronger financial viability and capacity to process returns.
If fees are decreased, centers’ operating margins could be tighter, potentially affecting participation or services.
Overall program effectiveness in encouraging container recycling and accessibility for consumers.

Procedural and timeline notes

Committee stage: Referred to the Environmental Conservation Committee. No further action is listed in the provided information.

Next steps to watch: Review the full bill text for specific fee amounts, calculation methods, eligibility criteria, implementation dates, and any fiscal impact statements. Track amendments, committee votes, and potential floor action or conference considerations.

Context and related bills

The bill has several related bills from prior sessions (A 6816, A 6057, A 2165, A 3590), suggesting ongoing legislative interest in adjusting the beverage container redemption system and related fees. These related bills may offer context on what approaches have been proposed previously and could inform future amendments to A 7103.

If you’d like, I can incorporate the exact text and any fiscal impact once the bill’s formal language and accompanying analyses are available.