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 […]
Oregon
Name The Beverage Container Act Purpose To reduce litter and increase recycling Enacted 7/2/1971 Date Implemented 10/1/1972 (last updated in 2025) Regulations Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapters 459A.700 – 459A.744 Beverages Covered Beverages ≤ 3L: [1] Soda (carbonated/sparkling beverages) Beer and other malt beverages Water Kombucha Hard Seltzer Beverages between 4 oz and 1.5L: Tea and Coffee […]
ACT
Name of Program Waste Management and Resource Recovery Amendment Bill 2017 Law Summary “Objects of the bill are- (a) establish a cost effective container deposit scheme to assist the beverage industry in reducing and dealing with waste generated by beverage product packaging; and (b) promote the recovery, reuse and recycling of empty beverage […]
New York
Name New York State Returnable Container Act Purpose Reduce litter, ease burden on solid waste facilities and encourage recycling activity Enacted 6/15/1982 Date Implemented 7/1/1983 Regulations New York State Environmental Conservation Law, Article 27, Title 10 Beverages Covered Carbonated soft drinks and soda water Beer and other malt beverages Wine coolers Carbonated and non-carbonated water […]
Vermont
Name Beverage Container Law Purpose Reduce litter, increase recycling, reduce waste disposal costs, create local jobs and save energy Enacted 4/7/1972 Date Implemented 7/1/1973 Regulations Vermont Statutes, Sec. 4b. 10 V.S.A. § 1388 and Title 10, Chapter 53 §1521 – §1530 Beverages Covered Beer, malt beverages (including but not limited to hard seltzer) Carbonated soft […]
Connecticut
Name Beverage Container Deposit and Redemption Law Purpose Litter reduction and recycling Enacted 4/12/1978 Implemented 1/1/1980 (last updated in 2025) Regulations CT General Statutes, CGS §22a-243 – §22a-246c Beverages Covered Beer and malt beverages Hard seltzer (malt-based only, spirit-based hard seltzer excluded) Carbonated beverages (including mineral water and soda water) Non-carbonated water (including flavored water and […]
Alberta
Name Alberta Regulation 101/1997 Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act: BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING REGULATION [1] Date Implemented Created in 1972, updated to create the Beverage Container Management Board (BCMB) on 12/1/1997. Beverages Covered All ready-to-serve beverages; beer exemption repealed in 2001 and dairy exemption repealed in 2009. [2] Containers Covered All sealed containers purchased in Alberta Amount of […]
Austria
Austria has two laws dealing with beverage container deposits: the 1990 Order puts a deposit on refillable plastic bottles, while the 2021 Amendment puts a deposit on single-use containers. Each piece of legislation has its own labeled table; see below for the two separate laws. 2021 Government Decision on Single-Use Deposit Return System Law Summary […]