Report: Beverage Distributors May Have Violated Bottle Deposit Law

NEW YORK (AP) -- New York conservation officials are investigating several beverage distributors who they suspect of skirting the state's bottle deposit law.

Department of Environmental Conservation Deputy Commissioner Anne Reynolds tells state legislators the criminal probes involve ``trans-shipping,'' where distributors buy bottles in other states that don't require nickel deposits and then sell them to retailers in New York.

Reynolds says the practice gives the distributors an illegal advantage over competitors that charge for the deposit, while also reducing state revenue.

The DEC is working with the state attorney general and county prosecutors. Reynolds says there are about a dozen investigations now under way.

Tax officials are also contacting companies that have not filed required reports.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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