Minnesota
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