Michigan
Name Michigan Beverage Container Act Purpose To reduce roadside litter, clean up the environment, and conserve energy and natural resources Enacted 11/2/1976 Date Implemented 12/3/1978 Regulations Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) §§445.571 – 445.576; 1996 PA 384, last amended in 2022 Beverages Covered Soft drinks, soda water, carbonated natural or mineral water, or other nonalcoholic carbonated […]
Singapore
Name Beverage Container Return Scheme [1] Date Implemented April 1, 2026 with a “transition period” until September 30, 2026. Containers Covered All prepackaged containers in plastic and metal containers from 150 mL to 3L. Glass is excluded. Beverages Covered All pre-packaged beverages, including water, soft drinks, juices, dairy, juice concentrates/cordials, and alcohol. [2] Amount of Deposit 10¢ […]
Massachusetts
Name Beverage Container Recovery Law Purpose To provide an economic incentive for consumers to return used beverage containers and encourage conservation of materials and energy through recycling and reuse. Enacted Legislative override of governor’s veto, 6/4/81 Date Implemented 1/1/1983 Regulations Massachusetts General Laws, Part I, Title XV, Chapter 94, Sections 321-327 Beverages Covered Beer, malt, […]
United Kingdom
Details England & Northern Ireland On March 28, 2018, the United Kingdom’s Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced that a beverage container deposit return program will be introduced, subject to a consultation process to determine the details of the law and program operation. [1] Public consultation on the implementation of the program opened […]
Finland
Finland has two laws dealing with beverage container recycling. One levies a tax on non-refillable containers, and one offers a refundable deposit as an alternative to the tax. Waste Management Act (646/2011) Law Summary Exempts certain containers with refundable deposits from the tax Date Implemented 1996 (Cans) / 2008 (PET) / 2012 (Glass) Containers Covered […]
Tasmania
Law Summary Container Refund Scheme Bill 2021 [1] Date Implemented Passed March 10 2022, began implementation May 2025 Containers Covered Beverages that are ≥150mL and ≤3L of the following materials: [2] PET HDPE Glass Aluminum Steel Liquid paperboard Containers Not Covered Regular milk containers Glass wine bottles Glass spirit bottles Cordial bottles Cartons > 1L Plastic containers <150mL […]
Ireland
Name Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, As Part of The Single Use Plastics Directive (2021) Date Implemented February 1, 2024 [1] Regulations Separate Collection Regulations 2021, SI 599 of 2021 Containers Covered Any beverage containers between 150 ml – 3L made of the following materials?: Plastic Aluminum Steel Containers Not Covered Any glass beverage […]
Poland
Law Summary Act on packaging management and packaging waste Date Enacted August 30, 2023 Date Implemented October 1, 2025 [1] Containers Covered PET bottles up to 3L Metal cans up to 1L Glass bottles up to 1.5L Beverages Covered TBD Beverages Not Covered TBD Containers Covered TBD Amount of Deposit 50 groszy for PET bottles […]
New South Wales
Law Summary Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Amendment (Container Deposit Scheme) Act (Part 5 of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001) [1] Date Implemented Passed 11/17/2016; implemented 12/1/2017 Containers Covered Beverages that are ≥150mL and ≤3L of the following materials: PET HDPE Glass Aluminum Steel Liquid paperboard Containers should be returned empty, uncrushed, unbroken and with the […]
Spain
Law Royal Decree 1055/2022 of December 27, on packaging and packaging waste [1] Date Implemented 12/27/2022 (DRS set to be implemented in 2026 – see details below). Containers Covered Plastic Bottles < 3L Aluminum Cans Beverages Covered Mineral and spring water Juices Nectars Freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable mixes Squashes (Concentrated fruit juice diluted with […]