Researcher: KLM Page 1 4/25/24
OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 293 (File 307, as amended by Senate “A”)*
AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits, under the state’s beverage container redemption
law (“bottle bill”), offering an empty beverage container to a dealer (e.g.,
retailer), redemption center, reverse vending machine, distributor, or
deposit initiator (i.e., the first distributor to collect the deposit), to obtain
its refund value or handling fee if the offeror knows, or should know,
that the container was already redeemed or originally purchased out-
of-state.
The bill correspondingly requires dealers, redemption centers, and
reverse vending machine operators to post a conspicuous “Redemption
Warning” sign, in at least one-inch font, where empty containers are
redeemed. It specifies the language that must be used, which generally
informs users about the prohibition and warns them that violating it will
subject them to fines and enforcement action.
A violation of the bill’s prohibition or signage posting requirement is
subject to the same fines that apply to other violations of the bottle bill.
Specifically, a fine of between $50 and $100 for a first offense, between
$100 and $200 for a second offense, and between $250 and $500 for a
third or subsequent offense (CGS § 22a-246).
*Senate Amendment “A” strikes the underlying bill, which (1)
required the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to
hire a consultant to do a waste characterization and needs assessment
and (2) increased, to 100,000 pounds, the gross vehicle weight limit for
vehicles hauling solid waste.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage 2024SB-00293-R01-BA.DOCX
Researcher: KLM Page 2 4/25/24
BACKGROUND
Bottle Bill
Under the bottle bill, a deposit must generally be charged on each
beverage container at the time of purchase, which is then refunded
when redeeming the empty container at a dealer or redemption center.
Dealers and distributors generally must take back containers of the kind,
size, and brand they sell. Distributors then pay dealers and redemption
center operators the refund value plus a per-container handling fee.
Related Bill
SB 191 (File 154), § 3, favorably reported by the Environment
Committee, contains a substantially similar beverage container
redemption prohibition and warning sign requirement.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Environment Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 34 Nay 0 (03/20/2024)