Distributors must pick up empties, at their expense, from dealers they sell to at least as often as they deliver filled containers, unless an alternative schedule is agreed to in writing. Distributors must pick up empty beverage containers from any redemption center in that distributor s primary territory, if the redemption center is only servicing consumers. The distributor and redemption center may set up their own schedules for payment and pickup, but a redemption center has the right to be serviced at least every two weeks and to be paid within ten business days of pickup. The deposit must be at least five cents. Once a container has been labeled with the deposit, the amount of the deposit cannot be changed.
Manufacturers place the deposit information on the containers.
The information must be permanently embossed or painted on the containers or printed as part of the product label on the container. It must appear on the top of cans and side of bottles. The names of other states with similar deposit legislation may also be included on the refund label. Refund stamps or stickers may not be used except for private label beverages. Containers that already had a deposit prior to the implementation date of the law and that had the brand name permanently marked on them were exempt from the above labeling requirements if the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation was notified of these containers by the beverage manufacturer prior to July 1, 1983.