New Yorkers know the deal: There’s a $0.05 deposit per can or bottle you purchase from the store.
What happens, though, to the deposit money that is left unclaimed?
According to News10, the state collects over $100 million each year in unclaimed bottle deposits.
New York collected over $139 million in 2021, according to the NYS Department of Tax and Finance.
That’s billions of cans and bottles never returned on an annual basis.
Soda and beer companies used to keep that money, but now, 80% of it goes to the state.
Most of the money goes to the state’s general fund, while $23 million goes to the Environmental Protection Fund.
More: Why is Walgreens charging a ‘recycling fee’ on top of traditional deposits?
