Bill textSeveral bills were introduced in Vermont this session, with a common theme: expanding the types of beverages covered, and making unclaimed deposits property of the state.
As required by Act 148 of 2012, Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources has reported on the relative merits of expanding the bottle bill vs. providing "Universal Access to Single Stream Recycling." Download the draft report. A report by CRI and VPIRG, "A Clean and Green Vermont," provides another perspective on the deposit law.
Meanwhile, bills (S-065) for bottle bill expansion were introduced in the House and Senate.
| Bill Number and Name | S.065 Bill text |
|---|---|
| Sponsors | Pollina, Anthony Doyle, Bill Zuckerman, David |
| Beverages Covered | Adds noncarbonated water, and all nonalcoholic carbonated or noncarbonated drinks, plus wine |
| Deposits | 5¢ for newly added nonalcoholic beverages, 15¢ for wine |
| Unredeemed Deposits | Returned to the state |
| Bill Number and Name | H.375 Bill text |
|---|---|
| Sponsors | Weed, Cindy Burke, Mollie S. Buxton, Sarah E. Christie, Kevin "Coach" and others |
| Beverages Covered | Adds noncarbonated water, and all nonalcoholic carbonated or noncarbonated drinks, plus wine |
| Deposits | 5¢ for newly added nonalcoholic beverages, 15¢ for wine |
| Unredeemed Deposits | Returned to the state |
The House Bill and Senate bill have subtle differences in wording and order, but they propose the same essential changes to the existing system: the addition of all nonalcoholic beverages and wine, and a provision that allows the state to keep unclaimed deposits.
This bill proposes to expand the scope of the beverage container redemption system to include wine and all noncarbonated drinks, except rice milk, soy milk, and milk.
While currently, distributors keep unclaimed deposits, the bill would require beverage manufacturers and distributors to remit abandoned beverage container deposits to the state. In the Senate bill, these funds are intended for deposit in a new Clean Environment Jobs Fund established to provide grants to business engaged in solid waste management and recycling.
January 30, 2013 Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
February 26, 2013 Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
| Bill Number and Name | H.495 Bill text |
|---|---|
| Sponsors | Representative Mrowicki |
| Beverages Covered | Adds all nonalcoholic carbonated or noncarbonated drinks except for rice milk, soymilk, and dairy. |
| Deposits | Complex lists should use bulleted sublists. Remove all <p> tags as they add unnecessary space at the bottom |
| Unredeemed Deposits | Reclaimed by the state |
Similarly to S.65 and H.375 above, this House bill would add most noncarbonated beverages to the list of deposit beverages, and would require distributors to remit unclaimed deposits to the state.
Its primary difference lies in where the unclaimed deposits ultimately end up. In this bill, it would be the (already existing) Solid Waste Management Assistance Account of the Waste Management Assistance Fund, "for use in funding the capital infrastructure and other costs associated with meeting the requirements under V.S.A. chapter 159 regarding the recycling of mandated recyclables, food residuals, and leaf and yard residuals."
March 12, 2013: Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
| Bill Number and Name | H.367 Bill text |
|---|---|
| Sponsors | Representative Pearson and several others |
| Beverages Covered | Adds all nonalcoholic carbonated or noncarbonated drinks except for rice milk, soymilk, and dairy. |
| Unredeemed Deposits | Remitted to the state |
Like the bills mentioned before it, this one would also expand the deposit-bearing beverages to include all nonalcoholic beverages except milk and milk substitutes. It would likewise require distributers to remit unclaimed deposits to the state. In this bill, however, the unclaimed deposits would belong to the general fund.
The bill also makes several other amendments to various Vermont tax laws which have no bearing on the container deposit system.
February 26, 2013: Read First Time and Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means