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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Iowa
Name Beverage Container Control Law Purpose Litter Control and Promoting Recycling Enacted 4/1/1978 Date Implemented Beer, soft drinks – 5/1/1979 Wine/liquor – 7/1/1979 Regulations Iowa Code, Chapter 455C and Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 567-107 Beverages Covered Beer Carbonated soft drinks Mineral water (carbonated and noncarbonated) Wine coolers Wine & liquor Containers Covered “Any sealed […]
Hawaii
Name Solid Waste Management; Deposit Beverage Container Law (Act 176) [1] Enacted 6/25/2002 (updated 2013) Date Implemented 1/1/2005 Regulations Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 342G, Part VIII, §§342G-101 – 342G-122 Beverages Covered Non-alcoholic beverages: water, juice, soda, tea, coffee, drink mixers, and sports drinks Beer Malt beverages Mixed spirits (<15% alcohol) Mixed wine (<7% alcohol) Alcohol […]