Maine Bottle Bill History
Maine Returnable Beverage Container Law
| Original Law | 1980 Changes | 1990 Update | 1991 Addition | 1993 | 2003 Additions/ Changes | 2009 Changes | 2017 Changes | 2023 Changes | Current Law | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Maine Returnable Beverage Container Law | |||||||||
| Purpose | Reduce litter and solid waste generation, create incentives for recycling and reuse | |||||||||
| Enacted | 11/2/1976 | 6/25/2003 | 6/16/2009 | 6/7/17 | 5/5/2023 | |||||
| Implemented | 6/1/1978 | 1/1/1990 | 3/1/2004 | 9/12/2009 | 5/1/2023 | |||||
| Beverages Covered | Beer, soft drink, mineral water, wine cooler | Expanded to include wine, liquor, water and non-alcoholic carbonated or non-carbonated drinks | Wine & spirits nips added | All beverages except dairy products and unprocessed cider | ||||||
| Containers Covered | Aseptic packages were banned | The ban on aseptics was repealed | Nips (wine & spirits bottles ≤50mL) | all sealed containers made of glass, metal or plastic, containing 4 liters or less, excluding aseptics | ||||||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¢ | 5¢ | Wine/liquor: 15¢ All others: 5¢ | |||||||
| Redemption Rate | Maine's law has no reporting mechanism to track the data (c) | |||||||||
| Reclamation System | Retail stores and redemption centers; Dealers may refuse containers if they have an agreement with a nearby redemption center | Retail stores and redemption centers; Dealers may refuse containers if they have an agreement with a nearby redemption center | ||||||||
| Unredeemed Deposits | 50% of unredeemed deposits escheat to state; the remainder are kept by distributors | Original escheat provision repealed | New escheat provision established. Unredeemed deposits (on any container not part of an approved commingling agreement) become property of state. | Property of state (when containers are not subject to a commingling agreement) | ||||||
| Handling Fee | 1¢ | Increased to 2¢ | Increased to 3¢ | Increased to 3.5¢ | Increased to 4¢ (effective Mar 1, 2010) | Increased to 5.5¢ effective May 1, 2023 with an increase to 6¢ effective September 2023. | 5.5¢, to be increased to 6¢ in September 2023 (a) | |||
| Notes | 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. | Requirements were added to regulate bulk redemption, the licensing of redemption centers, and to require the collection of plastic wrapping. | On May 5, 2023, the govenor signed emergency legislation enacted the handling fee be increased to 5.5¢ starting May 1, 2023 and that the fee be increased again to 6¢ starting September 1, 2023. | |||||||
Footnotes[a] "An Act to Increase the Handling Fee for Beverage Containers Reimbursed to Dealers and Redemption Centers." May 5, 2023. [b] Nips law signed June 7, 2017. [c] Source: Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry E-mail Communication with Steve Giguere. February 27, 2015. |
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