State Name Dates Beverages Covered Containers Covered Amount of Deposit Handling Fee Other Fees Scrap Revenue Reclamation System Unredeemed Deposits Program Success History
 
California California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act (AB 2020) Enacted 9/29/1986 Implemented 9/1/1987 beer, malt, wine & distilled spirits coolers, all non-alcoholic beverages except milk Aluminum. glass, plastic and bi-metal. Exempts refillables (10¢: 24oz and greater) and (5¢: under 24oz.) (Paid by state to supermarket sites, nonprofit convenience zone recyclers, and rural region recyclers.) .859¢ Beverage manufacturers pay Processing Fees to offset recyclers costs when the cost of recycling exceeds the value of material. Processing Payments paid by state to redemption centers. Processing fees and payments vary by container type. Retained by the redemption centers State certified redemption centers, registered curbside operations, dropoffs Property of program: used for program administration program payments and grants. 2013 recycling rates (January–December)
Overall 85%
aluminum 100%,
glass 85%
#1 PET 74%
#2 HDPE 108%
#3 PVC 14%
#4 LDPE 1%
#5 PP 10%
#6 PS 19%
#7 other 5%
bimetal 18%		 Amended in 1990, 2000, 2004, and 2007
Notes: For sources and references, see the California Quick Facts page. Containers are returned to licensed redemption centers, not to retailers; Refund value determined by weight for more than 50 containers
 
Connecticut Beverage Container Deposit and Redemption Law Enacted 4/12/78; Implemented 1/1/80 Beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks,and bottled water Any individual, separate, sealed glass, metal or plastic bottle, can, jar or carton containing a beverage. Excluded are containers over 3L containing noncarbonated beverages, and HDPE containers. 5¢ Beer 1.5¢, other beverages 2¢ N/A Retained by the distributors Retail stores and redemption centers Returned to the State

2013 recycling rates(January–December)

Overall 58.03%

Amended in 1983, 1986, and 2009
Notes: For sources and references, see the Connecticut Quick Facts page. "Dislocation fund" for workers who lost their jobs due to bottle bill
 
Hawaii Solid Waste Management; Deposit Beverage Container Law (Act 176) Enacted 6/25/02, Implemented 1/1/05 all nonalcoholic drinks, except for milk or dairy products, and limited alcoholic drinks (beer, malt beverages, mixed spirits, mixed wine). Aluminum, bi-metal, glass, plastic (PET and HDPE only) up to 68 oz. 5¢ Variable fee of 2–4¢ paid to redemption centers from the Deposit Beverage Container Fund. 1.5¢ non-refundable "container fee" (added to price of beverage) paid to fund redemption centers. Retained by the redemption centers Certified Redemption Centers (CRCs) operated by privately owned by State permitted Solid Waste facilities. Property of state: used for program administration July 2011 - June 2012
Overall 77%
Aluminum 80%
Bimetal 33%
Glass 75%
Plastic 71%		 Expanded in 2007
Notes: For sources and references, see the Hawaii Quick Facts page. Redemption centers must submit reports regularly, Refund may be calculated by weight
 
Iowa Beverage Container Deposit Law Enacted 4/1/78, Implemented 6/2/79 Beer, carbonated soft drinks & mineral water, wine coolers, wine & liquor any sealed glass, plastic, or metal bottle, can, jar or carton containing a beverage 5¢ 1¢, paid by distributor to retailer or redemption center N/A Retained by the distributors Retail stores and redemption centers Retained by distributor/bottlers 2013 recycling rates (January–December)
overall 86% 		 
Notes: For sources and references, see the Iowa Quick Facts page. Wine/liquor containers included; deposit containers were banned from landfills in 1990; if agreement exists w/licensed center, retailer can refuse containers
 
Massachusetts Beverage Container Recovery Law Enacted 6/4/81, Implemented 1/1/83 Beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks, & mineral water any sealable bottle, can, jar, or carton of glass, metal, plastic, or combo. Excludes biodegradables. 5¢

Redemption Centers
3.25¢ Retailers
2.25¢

   Retained by the distributors Retail stores and redemption centers Property of state general fund

CY Jan'13 – Dec ’13
Rate
64.94%

FY July ’12 – June ’13
Rate
66.30%

Amended in 1990 and 2003

Handling fee Amended 2013
Notes: For sources and references, see the Massachusetts Quick Facts page. Wholesalers must file monthly reports w/Dept. of Revenue re: deposit & refund, Survived repeal by referendum effort in 1982 by a 60% to 40% vote.
 
Maine Maine Returnable Beverage Container Law Enacted 1//2/76, Implemented 6/1/78 All beverages except dairy products and unprocessed cider all sealed containers made of glass, metal or plastic, containing 4 liters or less, excluding aseptics Wine/liquor: 15¢ All others: 5¢ 4¢ (.5¢ less if part of qualified commingling agreement)   Retained by the distributors Retail stores and redemption centers; Dealers may refuse containers if they have an agreement with a nearby redemption center Most containers are under a commingling agreement, and unclaimed deposits are property of distributor. If not under a commingling agreement, then unclaimed deposits are property of State. Maine's law has no reporting mechanism to track the data Amended in 1980, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2003, 2009
Notes: For sources and references, see the Maine Quick Facts page. 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.
 
Michigan Michigan Beverage Container Law Enacted 11/2/76, Implemented 12/3/78 Beer, soft drinks, carbonated & mineral water, wine coolers, canned cocktails Any airtight metal, glass, paper, or plastic container, or a combination, under 1 gallon 10¢ None   Retained by the distributors Retail stores 75% to state for envt'l programs, 25% to retailers 2013 recycling rates (January–December)overall 94.5%

Amended in 1989 and 2008

 

 
Notes: For sources and references, see the Michigan Quick Facts page. Only state with a 10 cent deposit
 
New York New York State Returnable Container Law Enacted 6/15/82, Implemented 7/1/83 Carbonated Soft Drinks, Soda Water, Beer and Other Malt Beverages, Wine Products and Water which does not contain sugar (including flavored or nutritionally enhanced water). An individual, separate, sealed glass, metal, aluminum, steel or plastic bottle, can or jar less than 1 gallon or 3.78 liters. 5¢ 3.5¢   Retained by the distributors Retail stores and redemption centers 80% to the state General Fund; 20% retained by distributor

2014 recycling rate
(December 1, 2013 through November 30, 2014)

Overall: 64%

 Amended in 1983, 1998, and 2009
Notes: For sources and references, see the New York Quick Facts page. Requires reporting of containers sold and redeemed by bottlers and distributors
 
Oregon The Beverage Container Act Enacted 7/2/71, Implemented 1/01/72 Beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks, & bottled water (will cover all beverages except wine, liquor, milk, and milk substitutes by 2018) Any individual, separate, sealed glass, metal or plastic bottle, can, jar containing a beverage Standard refillable: 2¢; all others 5¢ (with potential to increase to 10¢) none   Retained by the distributors Retail stores or approved redemption centers Retained by distributor/ bottlers

2013 recycling rates
(January -December)

Glass 78.84%
Metal 78.84%
Plastic 57.90%
Total 70.97%

 

 

 

 Expanded 1/1/08, 6/2011
Notes: For sources and references, see the Oregon Quick Facts page. Only deposit law without a handling fee.
 
Vermont Beverage Container Law (1972), Solid Waste Act (1987) Enacted 4/7/72, Implemented 7/1/73 Beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks, mixed wine drinks; liquor Any bottle, can, jar or carton composed of glass, metal, paper, plastic or any combination (Biodegradables excluded) liquor: 15¢ All others: 5¢ 4¢ for brand-sorted containers and 3.5¢ for commingled brands   Retained by the distributors Retail stores and redemption centers, If retailer is located conveniently near a licensed center and thereby gains state approval, retailer may refuse containers Retained by distributor/bottlers overall 85% Expanded in 1991
Notes: For sources and references, see the Vermont Quick Facts page.
 
All States  
  Notes: Food Stamps: Food stamp benefits can cover the entire cost of items such as eligible drinks in returnable bottles, including the bottle deposit. [a]
[a] Source: The Food Stamp Program: Training Guide for Retailers. USDA Food and Nutrition Service. December 2002 (http://www.dss.state.va.us/pub/pdf/ebt_retguide.pdf)