Five Long Island companies are accused of running a recycling scam aimed at taking advantage of the state?s bottle deposit law.

According to prosecutors, Peter Sidote, the owner of a Brentwood beer distributor, would gather cans and bottles and send them to recycler Joseph Luzzi, who was paid by the beverage manufacturer to crush the cans and send them on to an aluminum plant. Instead, authorities say, Luzzi would return the cans to Sidote, and they would start the process again, making millions of dollars.

Sidote and his alleged co-conspirators have been charged with grand larceny. If convicted, they could face up to 15 years in prison.