N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 27-1001

§ 27-1001. Legislative findings.\n The legislature hereby finds that litter composed of discarded\nbeverage containers is a growing problem of state concern and a direct\nthreat to the health and safety of the citizens of this state. Discarded\nbeverage containers create a hazard to vehicular traffic, a source of\nphysical injury to pedestrians and farm animals, a hazard to farm and\nother machinery and an unsightly accumulation of litter which must be\ndisposed of at increasing public expense. Beverage containers also\ncreate an unnecessary addition to the state's and municipalities'\nalready overburdened solid waste and refuse disposal systems.\nUnsegregated disposal of such containers creates an impediment to the\nefficient operation of resource recovery plants. Further, the\nlegislature finds that the uninhibited discard of beverage containers\nconstitutes a waste of both mineral and energy resources. The\nlegislature hereby finds that requiring a deposit on all beverage\ncontainers, along with certain other facilitating measures, will provide\na necessary incentive for the economically efficient and environmentally\nbenign collection and recycling of such containers.\n