Bottle Bill Resource Guide

Minnesota

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Publishes February 2014 Report to Increase Statewide Recycling

In January 2014, “Recycling Refund System Cost Benefit Analysis,” a 33-page report, was published on behalf of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) by Reclay StewardEdge. In 2007, MPCA established a goal to recycle 80% of beverage containers in the state by January 2012. Currently, Minnesota’s beverage  container recycling rate is approximately 45%. The study found that a new recycling refund system would result in increased recycling of approximately 107,000 tons of beverage containers in the state, or approximately 1.9 billion container units. The report found that in addition to the increase in quantity of beverage containers recycled, the quality of the collected commodities would be improved over that of the existing recycling systems. Several organizations and agencies inside and outside the state, including CRI, submitted comments and gave testimony about the reports assumptions and findings. In February 2014, based largely on the Reclay StewardEdge Report and public comments and testimony, MPCA released, “Increasing Recycling of Beverage Containers in Minnesota: Recommendations for Statewide Recycling Refund  Program.”
You can find the full report at:  http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=20637 
See CRI’s comments on draft, “Report to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Recycling Refund System Cost Benefit Analysis” (January 22, 2014):  http://www.container recycling.org/index.php/publications/cri-letters-andbriefings

2011 Minnesota Deposit-refund bill

Bill Number and Name HF 1494 / SF 1206
Sponsors Representative Hortman / Senators Sieben, Marty
Beverages Covered All beverages in liquid form, excluding milk
Containers Covered Metal, glass, plastic, or combination, up to 3L
Deposits 10¢
Handling Fees 1 or 2¢, depending on the type of business receiving the fee
Other Fees / Taxes Annual registration fee, paid by manufacturers to state
Reclamation System Return to retailers and approved refund centers
Unredeemed Deposits 90% go to state environmental fund, 10% divided among counties for waste management

Details

Deposits Effective January 1, 2012

Manufacturers must register with the Pollution Control Agency and pay a fee every year. The first year, the manufacturer must pay $3 per 10,000 containers sold, and after that, $1 per 10,000 containers.

Creates a beverage container recycling account where fees and penalty payments are deposited. Manufacturers initiate the deposit by paying the deposit and a 2¢ handling fee into this fund for every container sold. This handling fee is returned to retailers and refund centers. However, "large general merchandise stores" only receive a 1¢ handlig fee.

One unique provision of the bill is that "A retailer must ensure that the process of redeeming empty beverage containers is no more time-consuming and no less efficient than making a retail purchase at the retailer's store."

Finally, the bill specifies a number of reporting duties that various entities must attend to, as well as the penalties for violating the law.

Progress

April 14, 2011: House bill introduced and referred to Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance 

April 18, 2011: Senate bill introduced and referred to Environment and Natural Resources 

The 2009-2010 Minnesota Recycling Refund Act

A bill for a beverage container deposit, similar to the 2008 Minnesota bottle bill, was introduced in February 2009.

Bill Number and Name HF 1128 and SF 1549, Minnesota Recycling Refund Act
Primary Sponsor Hortman (House), Sieben (Senate)
Beverages Covered All drinks in liquid form intended for human consumption
Containers Covered All sealed containers of metal, plastic, glass, or combination, up to 1 gallon
Deposits 10¢
Handling Fees 1¢, paid by distributor to dealer or redemption center
Other Fees / Taxes None
Reclamation System Return to retail or redemption center
Unredeemed Deposits Returned to the state

Details

Manufacturers and distributors are required to report yearly to the Pollution Control Agency on the total amount of deposits paid and redeemed. Unclaimed deposits must be returned every year to the commissioner and kept in an unclaimed recycling refunds account to fund the system. Remaining revenues go to the environmental fund and individual municipalities to fund their waste management programs.

Progress

February 26, 2009: Introduced in House and referred to Environmental Policy and Oversight

March 16, 2009: Senate bill introduced and referred to Environment and Natural Resources

Contacts

Sarah Heuer
Policy Director, Minnesota Environmental Responsibility Network
515-441-6513
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Ben Olson
Government Relations Director, Minnesota Environmental Responsibility Network
612-799-8963
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The 2008 Minnesota Campaign

Minnesota introduced three bills having to do with beverage containers in 2008. The first, HF4046, requires beverage manufacturers to register with the state and implement recycling programs for their beverage containers. The second, HF4048, would enact a landfill ban of beverage containers by 2010. The third, HF 4047, is a traditional bottle bill, levying a 10¢ deposit on all beverage containers.
Bill Number and Name HF4046, producer responsibility
HF4048, landfill ban
HF 4047, deposit law 
Primary Sponsor Hortman; Murphy, E.; Greiling; Slocum; Liebling
Containers Covered all airtight containers of metal, glass, plastic container, or combination of these materials, under 1 gallon
Beverages Covered All drinks in liquid form intended for human consumption
Deposits 10¢
Reclamation System Return to retailer or licensed redemption center
Unredeemed Deposits Kept in the unclaimed bottle deposits account in the environmental fund.

Progress

March 13, 2008: All three bills were introduced and referred to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee

 

 
 
 
 

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