| Name | Beverage Container Deposit and Redemption Law |
| Purpose | Litter reduction and recycling |
| Enacted | 4/12/1978 |
| Implemented | 1/1/1980 |
| Beverages Covered | Beer and malt beverages; carbonated soft drinks (including mineral waters and soda waters); noncarbonated beverages (water, including flavored water and nutritionally enhanced water.) |
| Containers Covered | Any individual, separate, sealed glass, metal or plastic bottle, can, jar or carton containing a beverage. [b]Excluded are containers over 3L containing noncarbonated beverages, and HDPE containers. |
| Amount of Deposit | 5¢ |
| Reclamation System | Retail stores and redemption centers |
| Unredeemed Deposits | Returned to the State |
| Handling Fees | Beer 1.5¢; other beverages 2¢ |
| Redemption Rate |
Calendar Year 2019: 50% |
Details
Notes: Connecticut created a "Dislocation fund" for workers who lost their jobs due to bottle bill.
The expansion bill passed in 2009 resulted in a system for distributors to report income from deposits and return unclaimed deposits to the state; these data allow the state to calculate quarterly and annual statewide redemption rates. It was also in 2009 that water bottles were added to the deposit system.
Footnotes
[a] Prohibits metal containers with removable tabs and containers with non-biodegradable holders (i.e. plastic 6-pack rings) from being sold in the state
[b] This is further explained on the Bottle Bill FAQ page (http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2714&q=324834&depNav_GID=1645) as follows. "Effective April 1, 2009, 'noncarbonated beverages' were included in the Bottle Bill. For this section of the law, 'noncarbonated beverages' means water, including flavored water, nutritionally enhanced water and any beverage that is identified through the use of letters, words or symbols on such beverage's product label as a type of water, but excluding juice and mineral water." Mineral water is included in the law, but is considered a carbonated beverage.
[c] Source: CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) E-mail Communication with Chris Nelson 2/6/15