Maine

Name Maine Returnable Beverage Container Law
Purpose Reduce litter and solid waste generation, create incentives for recycling and reuse
Enacted 11/2/1976
Implemented 6/1/1978
Beverages Covered All beverages except dairy products and unprocessed cider
Containers Covered all sealed containers made of glass, metal or plastic, containing 4 liters or less, excluding aseptics
Amount of Deposit Wine/liquor: 15¢ All others: 5¢
Redemption Rate A survey by the Maine Department of Agriculture contains some redemption and sales information, but was unable to find any "reliable conclusions" due to lack of participation
Reclamation System Retail stores and redemption centers; Dealers may refuse containers if they have an agreement with a nearby redemption center
Unredeemed Deposits Property of state (more information)
Handling Fee 3.5¢ (3¢ if qualified commingling agreement) (viii)

Details

Distributors who initiate deposits have the obligation to pick up containers from the dealers they deliver to or from the licensed redemption center that serves those dealers.There is a per container fine of $100 for tendering containers purchased out of state for redemption.

Provisions for "commingling agreements" exist in the Maine legislation to increase the efficiency of this process. The following information from a study by the Maine Department of Agriculture 1

"Commingling groups” which represent approximately 2/3 of the beverage industry are 2 or more initiators of deposit (distributors) of beverage containers for which they have initiated deposits to be commingled by dealers and redemption centers. The advantages of comingling agreements allow for the commingling of beverage containers by like product group (beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks etc.) material and size.

Distributors who are members of a commingling agreement pick up all other beverage containers subject to the agreement in assigned geographical locations. The end result is less sorting for redemption centers and less handling and transportation costs for distributors.

Footnotes

[viii] Statutes of Maine: Title 32: Chapter 28: Section 4-c (http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/32/title32sec1866.html)

1 Maine Department of Agriculture, Division of Quality Assurance and Regulations. A Report Prepared for the 123rd Legislature Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development: Response to Chapter 40 Resolve, To Estimate the Annual Value of Uncollected Bottle Deposits, Fraud and Total Costs under Maine's Bottle Bill.

Updated June 15, 2008