Michigan
Name Michigan Beverage Container Act Purpose To reduce roadside litter, clean up the environment, and conserve energy and natural resources Enacted 11/2/1976 Date Implemented 12/3/1978 Regulations Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) §§445.571 – 445.576; 1996 PA 384, last amended in 2022 Beverages Covered Soft drinks, soda water, carbonated natural or mineral water, or other nonalcoholic carbonated […]
Singapore
Name Beverage Container Return Scheme [1] Date Implemented April 1, 2026 with a “transition period” until September 30, 2026. Containers Covered All prepackaged containers in plastic and metal containers from 150 mL to 3L. Glass is excluded. Beverages Covered All pre-packaged beverages, including water, soft drinks, juices, dairy, juice concentrates/cordials, and alcohol. [2] Amount of Deposit 10¢ […]
Massachusetts
Name Beverage Container Recovery Law Purpose To provide an economic incentive for consumers to return used beverage containers and encourage conservation of materials and energy through recycling and reuse. Enacted Legislative override of governor’s veto, 6/4/81 Date Implemented 1/1/1983 Regulations Massachusetts General Laws, Part I, Title XV, Chapter 94, Sections 321-327 Beverages Covered Beer, malt, […]
Finland
Finland has two laws dealing with beverage container recycling. One levies a tax on non-refillable containers, and one offers a refundable deposit as an alternative to the tax. Waste Management Act (646/2011) Law Summary Exempts certain containers with refundable deposits from the tax Date Implemented 1996 (Cans) / 2008 (PET) / 2012 (Glass) Containers Covered […]
Tasmania
Law Summary Container Refund Scheme Bill 2021 [1] Date Implemented Passed March 10 2022, began implementation May 2025 Containers Covered Beverages that are ≥150mL and ≤3L of the following materials: [2] PET HDPE Glass Aluminum Steel Liquid paperboard Containers Not Covered Regular milk containers Glass wine bottles Glass spirit bottles Cordial bottles Cartons > 1L Plastic containers <150mL […]
Poland
Law Summary Act on packaging management and packaging waste Date Enacted August 30, 2023 Date Implemented October 1, 2025 [1] Containers Covered PET bottles up to 3L Metal cans up to 1L Glass bottles up to 1.5L Beverages Covered TBD Beverages Not Covered TBD Containers Covered TBD Amount of Deposit 50 groszy for PET bottles […]
New South Wales
Law Summary Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Amendment (Container Deposit Scheme) Act (Part 5 of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001) [1] Date Implemented Passed 11/17/2016; implemented 12/1/2017 Containers Covered Beverages that are ≥150mL and ≤3L of the following materials: PET HDPE Glass Aluminum Steel Liquid paperboard Containers should be returned empty, uncrushed, unbroken and with the […]
Maine
Name Maine Returnable Beverage Container Law Purpose Reduce litter and solid waste generation, create incentives for recycling and reuse Enacted 11/2/1976 Date Implemented 6/1/1978 Regulations Maine Revised Statues, Title 38, Chapter 33, §3101-§3119 (2023 update) Beverages Covered All beverages except dairy products, Maine-produced apple cider and blueberry juice, unflavored rice milk, unflavored soymilk, products frozen […]
South Australia
Law Summary Environment Protection Act 1993, Part 8, Division 2: Beverage Containers. Purpose of Legislation “This Division establishes a litter control and waste management system for beverage containers through a regulatory scheme.” [1] Date Implemented Deposit legislation implemented in 1975. Integrated with Environment Protection Act in 1993 Beverages Covered Beverages ≤250mL [2]: Wine in plastic or […]
California
Name California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act (AB 2020) Purpose To encourage recycling and reduce litter. Program goal of 80% recycling rate. Enacted 9/29/1986 Implemented 9/1/1987 Regulations California Public Resources Code, Division 12.1 Beverages Covered Beer and malt beverages Wine coolers & distilled spirits coolers All non-alcoholic beverages, except milk. Includes 100% fruit […]