Increases the handling fee paid to dealers or operators of a redemption center

This bill increases the handling fee paid to redemption centers for processing empty beverage containers. Currently 3.5 cents per container, the fee rises to 6 cents starting April 1, 2025, and will automatically adjust annually based on New York State or federal minimum wage increases. The adjustment uses the percentage increase in the new minimum wage (rounded to the nearest $0.005), with New York’s wage rate for NYC employers with 11+ staff used if applicable. It directly affects dealers and operators of redemption centers, compensating them for collecting, sorting, and packaging containers. The fee cannot be tied to purchases or deducted from refund value accounts.