StateNameDatesBeverages CoveredContainers CoveredAmount of DepositHandling FeeOther FeesScrap RevenueReclamation SystemUnredeemed DepositsProgram SuccessHistory
 
California California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act (AB 2020) Enacted 9/29/1986 Implemented 9/1/1987 beer, malt, wine & distilled spirits coolers, all non-alcoholic beverages except milk Aluminum. glass, plastic and bi-metal. Exempts refillables (10¢: 24oz and greater) and (5¢: under 24oz.) (Paid by state to supermarket sites, nonprofit convenience zone recyclers, and rural region recyclers.) Department will calculate the monthly handling fee at the rate of $0.01046 per beverage container redeemed. Beverage manufacturers pay Processing Fees to offset recyclers costs when the cost of recycling exceeds the value of material. Processing Payments paid by state to redemption centers. Processing fees and payments vary by container type. Retained by the redemption centers State certified redemption centers, registered curbside operations, dropoffs Property of program: used for program administration program payments and grants.

Calendar Year 2017 redemption rates:
Aluminum 84%
Glass 69%
#1 PET 73%
#2 HDPE 64%
All materials/Overall 75%

 Amended in 1990, 2000, 2004, and 2007
 
Connecticut Beverage Container Deposit and Redemption Law Enacted 4/12/78; Implemented 1/1/80 Beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks,and bottled water Any individual, separate, sealed glass, metal or plastic bottle, can, jar or carton containing a beverage. Excluded are containers over 3L containing noncarbonated beverages, and HDPE containers. 5¢ Beer 1.5¢, other beverages 2¢ N/A Retained by the distributors Retail stores and redemption centers Returned to the State

FY'17
50.7%

 Amended in 1983, 1986, and 2009
 
Hawaii Solid Waste Management; Deposit Beverage Container Law (Act 176) Enacted 6/25/02, Implemented 1/1/05 all nonalcoholic drinks, except for milk or dairy products, and limited alcoholic drinks (beer, malt beverages, mixed spirits, mixed wine). Aluminum, bi-metal, glass, plastic (PET and HDPE only) up to 68 oz. 5¢ Variable fee of 2–4¢ paid to redemption centers from the Deposit Beverage Container Fund. A non-refundable "container fee" (added to price of beverage) is paid to Deposit Beverage Container fund to help pay redemption centers handling fees. The fee is tied to the previous fiscal year's redemption rate: if <70%, it is set to 1¢; if it is 70% or more, it is set to 1.5¢.. Retained by the redemption centers Certified Redemption Centers (CRCs) operated by privately-owned, State-permitted solid waste facilities Property of state: used for program administration

CY 2017: 65%

 Expanded in 2007
 
Iowa Beverage Container Deposit Law Enacted 4/1/78, Implemented 6/2/79 Beer, carbonated soft drinks & mineral water, wine coolers, wine & liquor any sealed glass, plastic, or metal bottle, can, jar or carton containing a beverage 5¢ 1¢, paid by distributor to retailer or redemption center N/A Retained by the distributors Retail stores and redemption centers Retained by distributor/bottlers 2017 recycling rates (January–December)
PET 60% Aluminum 69% Glass 83% Overall 71%		  
 
Massachusetts Beverage Container Recovery Law Enacted 6/4/81, Implemented 1/1/83 Beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks, & mineral water any sealable bottle, can, jar, or carton of glass, metal, plastic, or combo. Excludes biodegradables. 5¢

Redemption Centers
3.25¢ Retailers
2.25¢

   Retained by the distributors Retail stores and redemption centers Property of state general fund

CY '17 
(Jan. - Dec.) 57.1%

CY '16
(Jan. - Dec.) 56.%

Amended in 1990 and 2003

Handling fee Amended 2013
 
Maine Maine Returnable Beverage Container Law Enacted 1//2/76, Implemented 6/1/78 All beverages except dairy products, and unprocessed cider and blueberry juice produced in Maine. all sealed containers made of glass, metal or plastic, containing 4 liters or less, excluding aseptics Wine/liquor 50mL and above: 15¢   All others: 5¢ 4¢ (.5¢ less if part of qualified commingling agreement)   Retained by the distributors Retail stores and redemption centers; Dealers may refuse containers if they have an agreement with a nearby redemption center Most containers are under a commingling agreement, and unclaimed deposits are property of distributor. If not under a commingling agreement, then unclaimed deposits are property of State.

2017 redemption rate: 84%.

 Amended in 1980, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2003, 2009
 
Michigan Michigan Beverage Container Law Enacted 11/2/76, Implemented 12/3/78 Beer, soft drinks, carbonated & mineral water, wine coolers, canned cocktails Any airtight metal, glass, paper, or plastic container, or a combination, under 1 gallon 10¢ None   Retained by the distributors Retail stores 75% to state for envt'l programs, 25% to retailers

Redemption Rates:
2016 92.2%
2015 93.4%
2014 94.2%

Amended in 1989 and 2008

 

 
 
New York New York State Returnable Container Law Enacted 6/15/82, Implemented 7/1/83 Carbonated Soft Drinks, Soda Water, Beer and Other Malt Beverages, Wine Products and Water which does not contain sugar (including flavored or nutritionally enhanced water). An individual, separate, sealed glass, metal, aluminum, steel or plastic bottle, can or jar less than 1 gallon or 3.78 liters. 5¢ 3.5¢   Retained by the distributors Retail stores and redemption centers 80% to the state General Fund; 20% retained by distributor

2016 Overall: 66%
2015 Overall: 65%
2014 Overall: 64%
2013 Overall: 62%

 

 Amended in 1983, 1998, and 2009
 
Oregon The Beverage Container Act Enacted 7/2/71, Implemented 1/01/72

These beverages, in sizes up to and including three liters: water, flavored water, beer and other malt beverages, Mineral water, soda water and carbonated soft drinks.

Also these beverages, in sizes of at least four ounces and up to an including 1.5 liters: any beverage other than those specified above, except distilled liquor, wine, dairy or plant-based milks, infant formula or any other beverage excluded by OLCC.

Container types include glass, metal and plastic, excluding cartons, foil pouches and drink boxes and metal containers that require a tool to be opened.

 Any individual, separate, sealed glass, metal or plastic bottle, can, jar containing a beverage 10¢ (Increased from 5¢ as of April 1, 2017) none   Retained by the distributors Retail stores or approved redemption centers Retained by distributor/ bottlers / Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative

2017 Redemption rate:

78.2% Metal
67.1% Glass
68.4% Plastic
73.3% Total
 

 

 

 

 Expanded January 1st, 2018
 
Vermont Beverage Container Law (1972), Solid Waste Act (1987) Enacted 4/7/72, Implemented 7/1/73 Beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks, mixed wine drinks; liquor Any bottle, can, jar or carton composed of glass, metal, paper, plastic or any combination (Biodegradables excluded) liquor: 15¢ All others: 5¢ 4¢ for brand-sorted containers and 3.5¢ for commingled brands   Retained by the distributors Retail stores and redemption centers, If retailer is located conveniently near a licensed center and thereby gains state approval, retailer may refuse containers Since the bottle bill's inception, Vermont distributors and bottlers have kept unclaimed deposits. On May 30, 2018, VT Gov. Phil Scott signed S.285, to make unclaimed deposits the property of the State for use on clean water programs. The change will become effective on October 1, 2019. overall 75%

2017 redemption rate for liquor bottles only: 84%

2016 redemption rate for liquor bottles only: 76%		 Expanded in 1991
 
All States  
  Notes:Because reporting requirements for recycling rates vary from state to state, the data is not comparable. Food Stamps: Food stamp benefits can cover the entire cost of items such as eligible drinks in returnable bottles, including the bottle deposit. [a]
[a] Source: The Food Stamp Program: Training Guide for Retailers. USDA Food and Nutrition Service. December 2002 (http://www.dss.state.va.us/pub/pdf/ebt_retguide.pdf)