Container deposit legislation in the United States
Encyclopedia
The United States container-deposit legislation is popularly called bottle bills after the Oregon Bottle Bill
, the first such legislation passed in the U.S.
Container deposit legislation is requires a refundable deposit on certain types of recyclable beverage containers in order to ensure an increased recycling rate.
There are currently 11 states in the U.S. with container deposit legislation. Efforts to pass container deposit legislation in the 39 states that do not have them are often politically contentious. The U.S. beverage container industry—including both the bottlers of water, soda, beer
, and the corporate owners of grocery stores, and convenience stores—often spends large amounts of money in the United States lobbying against the introduction of both new and amended beverage container deposit legislation.
Studies show that beverage container legislation has reduced total roadside litter by between 30% and 64% in the states with bottle bills.
Studies also show that the recycling rate for beverage containers is vastly increased with a bottle bill. The United States’ overall beverage container recycling rate is approximately 33%, while states with container deposit laws have a 70% average rate of beverage container recycling. Michigan
’s recycling rate of 97% from 1990-2008 is the highest in the nation, as is the state's $0.10 deposit.
Proponents of container deposit legislation have pointed to the small financial responsibilities of the states. Financing these programs are the responsibility of the beverage industry and consumers. Producers are responsible for disposing of returned products, while consumers are responsible for collecting their refunds.
In Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, and Massachusetts the courts have ruled that unclaimed deposits are deemed abandoned by the public and are therefore property of the state. These states use these monies to fund other environmental programs. In California and Hawaii uncollected deposits are used to cover the administrative costs of the deposit program.
Tennessee has been attempting to pass their own Tennessee Bottle Bill
in 2009 and 2010, which is projected to increase the state's current 10 percent recycling rate to 80 percent.
Oregon Bottle Bill
The Oregon Bottle Bill is container-deposit legislation passed in the U.S. state of Oregon in 1971 and amended in 2007. It requires cans, bottles, and other containers of carbonated soft drink, beer, and water sold in Oregon to be returnable with a minimum refund value...
, the first such legislation passed in the U.S.
Container deposit legislation is requires a refundable deposit on certain types of recyclable beverage containers in order to ensure an increased recycling rate.
There are currently 11 states in the U.S. with container deposit legislation. Efforts to pass container deposit legislation in the 39 states that do not have them are often politically contentious. The U.S. beverage container industry—including both the bottlers of water, soda, beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
, and the corporate owners of grocery stores, and convenience stores—often spends large amounts of money in the United States lobbying against the introduction of both new and amended beverage container deposit legislation.
Studies show that beverage container legislation has reduced total roadside litter by between 30% and 64% in the states with bottle bills.
Studies also show that the recycling rate for beverage containers is vastly increased with a bottle bill. The United States’ overall beverage container recycling rate is approximately 33%, while states with container deposit laws have a 70% average rate of beverage container recycling. Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
’s recycling rate of 97% from 1990-2008 is the highest in the nation, as is the state's $0.10 deposit.
Proponents of container deposit legislation have pointed to the small financial responsibilities of the states. Financing these programs are the responsibility of the beverage industry and consumers. Producers are responsible for disposing of returned products, while consumers are responsible for collecting their refunds.
In Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, and Massachusetts the courts have ruled that unclaimed deposits are deemed abandoned by the public and are therefore property of the state. These states use these monies to fund other environmental programs. In California and Hawaii uncollected deposits are used to cover the administrative costs of the deposit program.
U.S. states with container deposits
According to 2004 U.S. Census Bureau statistics, approximately 30% of the U.S. population currently reside in states or territories with existing container deposit laws:- CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(5¢; 10¢ for bottles 24 fl oz or greater), California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act (AB 2020) implemented in 1987, last revision made October 2010. Listed on containers as "California Redemption Value" or "CRV". Beverages covered in the act are beer, malt, wine, distilled spirits and coolers, and all non-alcoholic beverages except milk. Container types are aluminum, glass, plastic, bi-metals (exempts refillables). The recycling rate for beverage containers of all materials from January 2008 to June 2008 was 85%. - ConnecticutConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
(5¢), Beverage Container Deposit and Redemption Law 1980; not charged on milk (deposit on water bottles went into effect Oct 1, 2009) Applies to beer, carbonated soft drinks (including mineral water and soda waters) and non-carbonated beverages (excluding juice and mineral water). Beverage container types include bottles, jars, or cartons made from glass, metal, or plastic bottles. - DelawareDelawareDelaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
(5¢), Beverage Container Regulation 1982 [Repealed in 2009]. Included beer, malt, ale, soft drinks, mineral water, soda water, and covered all containers under 2 quarts (with exception of aluminum). Container deposit legislation was repealed by Senate Bill 234. As of December 1, 2010 consumers no longer paid a deposit on containers, with no refunds will paid after February 1, 2011. - HawaiiHawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
(5¢), Solid Waste Management Deposit Beverage Container Law (Act 176). Enacted in June 2002. In addition, Hawaii charges a nonrefundable 1¢ fee per container to fund the program. This fee increases to 1.5¢ if the redemption rate reaches 70%. Containers of aluminum, bi-metal, glass, plastic (PETEPetePete is a diminutive from Peter. It may refer to:-Athletics:* The Pete, Petersen Events Center, athletics complex and basketball arena on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh* Pete the Penguin, mascot of Youngstown State University...
and HDPE) up to 68oz. All non-alcoholic beverage (excluding dairy), beer, malt, mixed spirits, and wine. 76% redemption rate. - IowaIowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
(5¢ for containers that held carbonated beveragesCarbonationCarbonation is the process of dissolving carbon dioxide in water. The process usually involves carbon dioxide under high pressure. When the pressure is reduced, the carbon dioxide is released from the solution as small bubbles, which cause the solution to "fizz." This effect is seen in carbonated...
), Beverage Container Deposit Law 1978. Beverages of beer, wine coolers, wine, liquor, soda, mineral water. Bottles, cans, jars, or cartons made of glass, plastic, or metal. - MaineMaineMaine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
(5¢, also applies to fruit juice and bottled waterBottled waterBottled water is drinking water packaged in plastic or glass water bottles. Bottled water may be carbonated or not...
; 15¢ for some wine bottles), Maine Returnable Beverage Container Law 1978. All beverages except dairy and unprocessed cider. All glass, metal, or plastic containers 4 liters or smaller. - MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
(5¢ for containers that held carbonated beverages), Beverage Container Recovery Law enacted in 1982. Beverages include beer, malt, soda, mineral water in jars, cartons, bottles, or cans made of glass, metal, plastic, or a combination. 72.3% redemption rate. Expansion of the Massachusetts container law was proposed in 2010 by Gov.Deval PatrickDeval PatrickDeval Laurdine Patrick is the 71st and current Governor of Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party, Patrick served as an Assistant United States Attorney General under President Bill Clinton...
, who included the expansion in his fiscal year 2010 budget to include a nickel deposit on water, juice, energy drink and sport drink containers not covered in the original law. - MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
(10¢ non-refillable, 5¢ refillable) - Michigan Beverage Container Act 1978. For beverages of beer, pop, carbonated and mineral water, wine coolers, canned cocktails. In containers made of metal, glass, paper, or plastic under 1 gallon. 97% redemption rate. Escheated deposits are divided as: 75% to State Cleanup and Redevelopment Trust Fund, 25% returned to retailers. Redemption limit per person, per day is $25 in deposits. - New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(5¢), New York State Returnable Container Law 1982.for containers that held carbonated beverages (including water bottles since Oct 31, 2009) Beverages include beer, malt, soda, water, wine coolers. Container types are metal, glass, paper, plastic or a combination under 1 gallon. Overall redemption rates are 66%; beer is 76%, soda is 56.6%, wine is 64.7% as of 2007. Redemption limit is 72 containers per person, per day. As of March 2010, all business which sell beverages in beverages containers for consumption off site and are part of a chain of businesses of 10 or more under common ownership are required to install 3-8 reverse vending machines on their premises depending on square footage of the business. - OregonOregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
(5¢), The Beverage Container Act 1972. Beverages covered are beer, malt, soda, and bottled water. Included are bottles, cans, or jars made of glass, metal, or plastic bottles. Redemption Rate is 83%. Redemption limit per person, per day is 144 containers (50 containers for stores less than 5000 square feet). - VermontVermontVermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
(5¢; 15¢ for most liquor bottles), Beverage Container Law 1973. Includes beer, malt, soda, mixed wine drinks, liquor. Containers included are bottles, cans, jars, or cartons composed of glass, metal, paper, plastic, or a combination. Redemption rate is 85%.
Proposed Bottle Bill Legislation in other states
Texas unsuccessfully attempted to introduce a bottle bill into legislation in 2011. The bill set a redemption goal of 75% with a deposit rate of $0.10 for containers 24oz or less, and $0.15 for containers larger than 24oz. Beverages covered would be beer, malt, carbonated soft drinks, mineral water, wine, coffee, tea, juices and flavored and non-carbonated waters (dairy products excluded). Containers made of glass, plastic or aluminum containing a beverage of 4 liters or less would be covered. The Texas bottle bill did not gather enough votesTennessee has been attempting to pass their own Tennessee Bottle Bill
Tennessee Bottle Bill
The Tennessee Bottle Bill is container-deposit legislation that is proposed. The legislation, if successful, would require a five-cent deposit on beverage containers...
in 2009 and 2010, which is projected to increase the state's current 10 percent recycling rate to 80 percent.
External links
- Map with links to text of U.S. bottle bill laws, LawServer
- California's Bottle Bill
- Tennessee Bottle Bill Project
- Senator Jim Jefford's National Bottle Bill
- Hawaii Dept of Health Bottle Deposit Law Site
- West Virginia Bottle Bill
- Texas Bottle Bill
- Abstract: Congressional Research Service 93-114 ENR. “Bottle Bills and Curbside Recycling: Are They Compatible?”
- Congressional Research Service 93-114 ENR. “Bottle Bills and Curbside Recycling: Are They Compatible?”