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April 30, 2024

CT lawmakers OK legislation to ban bottle bill recycling scams

JADEN EDISON / CTMIRROR.ORG Environment Committee Rep. Joe Gresko, D-Stratford, speaks in favor of a bill that would adjust the state's bottle bill on the House floor Monday, April 29, 2024.
By Ginny Monk, CT Mirror

State lawmakers on Monday gave final passage to a bill that aims to prohibit recycling scams under Connecticut’s bottle bill.

Senate Bill 293 passed the House on Monday night with 129 in favor, 19 against and three absent/not voting. It would ban people from returning empty cans and bottles if they already know that they have been redeemed or if they were purchased out of state.

It also requires that dealers, redemption centers and reverse vending machine operators post signage about the prohibition. Failing to post the sign can result in fines of $50 to $100 for first-time offenders, according to legislative documents.

Certain canned or bottled beverages in Connecticut carry a 10-cent deposit, an increase from 5 cents that began at the start of the year. Consumers pay the 10 cents and get the money back when they return the empty container.

Environment Committee Rep. Joe Gresko, D-Stratford, said that the bill is aimed at preventing people from bringing large numbers of empties to Connecticut to take advantage of the state’s higher rate.

“There are individuals that do bring … quite a few items from out of state, which the industry here in the state of Connecticut, the manufacturers, the retail industry, would be forced to redeem,” Gresko said.

Rep. Patrick Callahan, R-New Fairfield, ranking member on the Environment Committee, likened the situation to one on the sitcom “Seinfeld,” when Kramer and Newman plot to take a mail truck full of redeemable bottles to Michigan to collect the higher bottle deposit.

“This piece of legislation would prohibit that and hopefully discourage any trips in trucks trying to come to the state of Connecticut,” Gresko said.

Republicans questioned how the bill would be enforced.

“I think getting the word out that this is something we discourage would be a good idea,” Callahan said. But, he added, he thinks enforcing it would be difficult.

Gresko said that the intent is to provide education and awareness by passing the legislation.

Most metal, glass, and plastic beverage containers are eligible for a refund if they’re between the sizes of 150mL to 3 liters for carbonated drinks and 150mL to 2.5 liters for non-carbonated beverages.

Drinks that qualify for a refund are: carbonated beverages, beer and malt beverages, non-carbonated water (including flavored water), hard cider, juice, tea, coffee, kombucha, plant-infused drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks.

The bill next heads to Gov. Ned Lamont’s office for his signature before becoming law — the first bill to reach his desk this session. The bill would be effective upon passage, according to legislative documents.

Gabby DeBenedictis contributed reporting.

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