O F F I C E O F L E G I S L A T I V E R E S E A R C H
P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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PA 23-76—sSB 895
Environment Committee
Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee
AN ACT CONCERNING TH E LABELING OF CERTAI N BEVERAGE
CONTAINERS, THE REVI EW OF MUNICIPAL PROGRAMS F UNDED
BY NIP PAYMENTS AND THE RETURN OF BEVERA GE CONTAINERS
FOR THE REDEMPTION V ALUE
SUMMARY: This act makes the following changes to the state’s beverage
container redemption law (“bottle bill”):
1. allows dealers (e.g., retailers) and distributors to sell or offer for sale
beverage containers labeled with a five-cent refund value on and after
January 1, 2024, as long as they were part of a dealer’s or distributor’s
inventory on December 31, 2023;
2. caps at 240 the number of beverage containers a person may redeem at one
time at a dealer’s reverse vending machine; and
3. requires dealers and distributors, beginning January 1, 2024, to educate
consumers about the 10-cent redemption value for beverage containers that
applies on and after that date.
The state’s bottle bill generally requires that a deposit be charged on each
beverage container at the time of purchase, which is then refunded to the consumer
when redeeming the empty container at the retailer or a redemption center. On
January 1, 2024, the deposit amount of these containers increases from five cents
to 10 cents.
The act also requires the Council on Environmental Quality to include in the
annual environmental quality report it submits to the governor a review of the
programs and measures local governments implemented with funds received from
the state’s nip surcharge. State law adds a five-cent surcharge on each nip sale. A
“nip” is a beverage container containing 50mL or less of a spirit or liquor.
Wholesalers must remit the surcharge to the municipality where the sale occurred,
and municipalities must use these funds for environmental efforts to reduce the
amount of solid waste generated in the municipality or the impact of litter (CGS §
22a-244b).
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage, except the provision on selling outdated five-
cent deposit beverage containers is effective January 1, 2024.