$3 Fee on Beer Happening Soon in New York State

You may soon be paying a mandatory $3 fee on beer and soda in New York State.

That would be quite the increase since the return price has been stagnant for decades. Lawmakers are pushing for the bottle and can return to go from 5 cents to 10 cents and the legislative session ends in a couple of weeks so, we could have an answer by as early as the end of the month.

Here is how it is going to work:

• Wherever you return your bottles or cans, they get 8.5 cents per bottle/can.
• You get 5 cents of that return.
• That leaves the grocery store or bottle return company with 3.5 cents per unit that you return.

Consumers pay a deposit fee of 5 cents for each aluminum can or bottle when they buy a redeemable beverage in New York. The price, which is included in the purchase price, is returned to consumers who turn in their containers at redemption centers", according to TimesUnion.com.

Beer and pop prices could be going 'up' then.

After all, you pay for the bottle and can deposit when you make the initial purchase at the grocery store. For example, if you buy a 30 pack of beer, right now you pay the can deposit of $1.50.

If the bottle deposit were to go up to 10 cents per unit, that you would be paying $3 per 30 pack that you buy. So, you will be more encouraged to recycle the cans in the future.