Connecticut

Name Beverage Container Deposit and Redemption Law
Purpose Litter reduction and recycling
Enacted 4/12/1978
Implemented 1/1/1980
Beverages Covered Beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks, and bottled water [a]
Containers Covered Any individual, separate, sealed glass, metal or plastic bottle, can, jar or carton containing a beverage. [b]Excluded are containers over 3L containing noncarbonated beverages, and HDPE containers.
Amount of Deposit 5¢
Reclamation System Retail stores and redemption centers
Unredeemed Deposits Returned to the State
Handling Fee Beer 1.5¢, other beverages 2¢
Redemption Rate

Calendar Year
2017 50.7%
2016 48.5%
2015 51.1%
2014 53.0%
2013 57.4%
2012 58.1%
2011 50.8%
2010 59.4%
2009 63.8%

Details

Notes: Connecticut created a "Dislocation fund" for workers who lost their jobs due to bottle bill.

Connecticut activists have been trying to pass an update to the bottle bill for years, and finally succeeded in 2009. The legislation passed in 2009 resulted in a system for distributors to report income from deposits and return unclaimed deposits to the state. It was also in 2009 that water bottles were added to the deposit system.

Footnotes

[a] Prohibits metal containers with removable tabs and containers with non-biodegradable holders (i.e. plastic 6-pack rings) from being sold in the state

[b] This is further explained on the Bottle Bill FAQ page (http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2714&q=324834&depNav_GID=1645) as follows. "Effective April 1, 2009, 'noncarbonated beverages' are now included in the Bottle Bill. For this section of the law, 'noncarbonated beverages' means water, including flavored water, nutritionally enhanced water and any beverage that is identified through the use of letters, words or symbols on such beverage's product label as a type of water, but excluding juice and mineral water." Mineral water is included in the law, but is considered a carbonated beverage.

[c] Source: CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) E-mail Communication with Chris Nelson 8/18/17.

Updated August 23, 2018