State Beverage Container Deposit Laws

Jennifer Schultz 3/14/2018

States with Container Deposit Laws

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Jennifer Schultz

Brooke Oleen

Beverage container deposit laws, or bottle bills, are designed to reduce litter and capture bottles, cans, and other containers for recycling. Ten states and Guam have a deposit-refund system for beverage containers. The chart below contains a citation and summary of each state law. Deposit amounts vary from two cents to 15 cents, depending on the type of beverage and volume of the container.

How Do Bottle Bills Work?

When a retailer buys beverages from a distributor, a deposit is paid to the distributor for each container purchased. The consumer pays the deposit to the retailer when buying the beverage, and receives a refund when the empty container is returned to a supermarket or other redemption center. The distributor then reimburses the retailer or redemption center the deposit amount for each container, plus an additional handling fee in most states. Unredeemed deposits are either returned to the state, retained by distributors, or used for program administration.

Please see the Energy and Environment Legislation Tracking Database for more information.

State Container Deposit Laws

State

Statute

Year

Summary
     

Deposit Amount

Beverages Covered

Containers Covered

Unredeemed Deposits

California

Cal. Public Resources Code §§14501 - 14599

1986

5¢ (˂24 oz.)

10¢ (≥24oz.)

Beer, malt, wine and distilled spirit coolers; all non-alcoholic beverages, except milk. Excludes vegetable juices over 16 oz.

Any container composed of aluminum, glass, plastic, or bi-metal; Exempts refillables

Property of program; Used for program administration

Connecticut

Conn. Gen. Stat. §§22a-243 – 22a-246

1978

5¢

Beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks, bottled water

Any sealed bottle, can, jar, or carton composed of glass, metal or plastic; Excludes containers over three liters containing non-carbonated beverages, and HDPE containers

Returned to the state

Hawaii

Hawaii Rev. Stat. §§342G-101 – 342G-122

2002

5¢

Beer, malt, mixed spirits and wine; all non-alcoholic drinks, except dairy products

Any container up to 68 oz. composed of aluminum, bi-metal, glass, or plastic

Property of state; Used for program administration

Iowa

Iowa Code §455C.1 – 455C.17

1978

5¢

Beer, wine coolers, wine, liquor, carbonated soft drinks, mineral water

Any sealed bottle, can, jar, or carton composed of glass, metal or plastic

Retained by distributor and bottlers

Maine

Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 38, §§3101 - 3118

1976

15¢ (wine/liquor)

5¢ (all others)

All beverages except dairy products and unprocessed cider

Any sealed container of four liters or less composed of glass, metal or plastic

Property of state

Massachusetts

Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 94, §§321 - 327

1981

5¢

Beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks, mineral water

Any sealable bottle, can, jar, or carton composed of glass, metal, plastic, or a combination; Excludes biodegradables

Property of state general fund

Michigan

Mich. Comp. Laws §§445.571 – 445.576

1976

10¢

Beer, wine coolers, canned cocktails, soft drinks, carbonated and mineral water

Any airtight container under one gallon composed of metal, glass, paper, or plastic

75% to state for environmental programs; 25% to retailers

New York

N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law §§27-1001 – 27-1019 (Amended 2013 SB 2608)

1982

5¢

Beer, malt, wine products, carbonated soft drinks, soda water, and water not containing sugar

Any sealed bottle, can, or jar less than one gallon composed of glass, metal, aluminum, steel, or plastic 

80% to the state general fund; 20% retained by distributor

Oregon

Or. Rev. Stat. §§459A.700 – 459A.740

1971

10¢

2¢ (standard refillable)

Beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks, bottled water (will cover all beverages except wine, distilled liquor, milk, milk substitutes and infant formula by 2018).

Any sealed bottle, can, or jar composed of glass, metal or plastic

Retained by distributor and bottlers

Vermont

Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 10, §§1521 - 1529

1972

15¢ (liquor)

5¢ (all others)

Beer, malt, mixed wine, liquor, carbonated soft drinks. 

Any bottle, can, jar, or carton composed of glass, metal, paper, plastic, or a combination; Excludes biodegradables

Retained by distributor and bottlers

Guam

Guam Code tit. 10, §§44101 - 44119

2010

5¢

Beer, ale, malt, mixed spirits, mixed wine, and all non-alcoholic beverages. Excludes milk, supplements, medicines

Any sealed glass, metal, or plastic container up to 64 oz.

Retained by EPA