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For more than four decades, returning a soda can or a water bottle in New York has earned exactly the same reward: 5 cents.
Now, lawmakers in Albany are considering whether that nickel should finally get an upgrade.
A proposal known as the “Bigger, Better Bottle Bill” would double the state’s bottle deposit to 10 cents per container, the first increase since New York’s bottle-return system took effect in 1983. The legislation would also expand the types of drinks that qualify for deposits, potentially pulling billions of additional containers into the state’s recycling system each year.
New York’s existing law, officially called the Returnable Container Act, requires a deposit on containers for carbonated soft drinks, beer and certain bottled water. Consumers pay the deposit when they buy a beverage and get it back when they return the empty container to a retailer or redemption center.
The proposed update would broaden the definition of a “beverage” to include many drinks that weren’t common when the law was first written—things like sports drinks, iced teas and flavored waters. The bill defines beverages as both carbonated and non-carbonated drinks intended for human consumption, including products such as teas, juices and electrolyte drinks.
Supporters argue that doubling the deposit would give New Yorkers a stronger incentive to recycle. States with higher deposits often see higher redemption rates. Michigan, for example, has a 10-cent deposit and regularly reports redemption rates near 90 percent, compared with roughly 65 percent in New York, according to the Container Recycling Institute.
Environmental groups say modernizing the law could divert billions of additional containers from landfills and incinerators while reducing litter across parks, beaches and city streets. Some estimates suggest the change could redirect more than 5 billion bottles and cans each year.
For everyday New Yorkers, the effect would be simple: return a bag of 100 cans and you’d get $10 back instead of $5.
The proposal also addresses another problem that frequent recyclers have noticed—redemption centers are disappearing. Operators say the current handling fee paid to redemption centers hasn’t kept up with rising costs, so supporters of the bill want to increase those fees to help keep the system financially viable.
Still, not everyone is on board.
Some beverage retailers and liquor store owners argue that the changes would create new logistical burdens, especially if more container types need to be accepted and stored. Industry groups are also concerned that higher deposits could push up drink prices for consumers.
The bill has been introduced before and failed to pass during earlier legislative sessions. This year, however, advocates are pushing to include it in negotiations over New York’s 2026 state budget, which must be finalized by April 1.
That doesn’t guarantee it will make the cut. Budget negotiations in Albany are notoriously unpredictable and proposals sometimes fall away before a final deal emerges.
So while the 10-cent return isn’t guaranteed yet, after more than 40 years stuck at 5 cents, the idea may be closer to becoming reality than ever.